AAPI SPECIFIC RESOURCES GENDER DYSPHORIA INTERSEX LATINX SPECIFIC RESOURCES LGBTQ+ TERMINOLOGY
MENTAL HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES RELIGIOUS RESOURCES SUPPORT FOR PARENTS SUPPORTIVE GROUP MEETINGS TRANS ATHLETES COMPETING IN SPORTS
RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS
The California Department of Education, in response to direction from the state legislature (AB 493), has developed a resource site for schools and districts. This site offers a wealth of information regarding supporting LGBTQ+ students, including specific supports broken down by region. Particularly helpful are the explanations and FAQs regarding “Laws Related to Supporting LGBTQ+ Students.” You will find a referral to Kinder Future on the state’s website HERE.
ANTI-BULLYING
How to intervene and what to say to “that’s so gay” and other hurtful comments:
https://welcomingschools.org/resources/stop-thats-so-gay-anti-lgbtq-comments
INCLUSIVE CURRICULUMS
California Education Code has outlined that part of our responsibility as educators is that we no longer ignore the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals and identities at school. SB 48, the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act, includes LGBT Americans in a list of diverse identities to be included in curriculum, particularly as related to historical contributions. The California Healthy Youth Act requires that all instructional and non-instructional materials, K–12, be inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ people.
Below you will find great resources for lesson plans and literature for all grade levels, including read alouds. For non-instructional materials, think health and mental health information in nurses’ and counselors’ offices, flyers promoting your school’s LGBTQ and Ally peer support club, or GSA (“Gay, Straight, Alliance”), and inclusive forms (e.g. “family,” “caregivers” or “guardian” instead of “mom and dad” and “student” as opposed to “boy or girl,” etc.).
Inclusivity Self Evaluation Tools - Fabulous resources for school staff and administrators to self evaluate, analyze their school environment, learn inclusive and equitable practices, and find answers for responding to concerns and questions from the community.
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/publications/best-practices-for-serving-lgbtq-students
Elementary - A teachers’ guide to LGBTQ+ inclusive ELA instruction in elementary school:
https://www.tcpress.com/reading-the-rainbow-9780807759332
Elementary - Lesson plans for elementary age students based on LGBTQ+ inclusive literature:
https://welcomingschools.org/resources/lesson-plans-lgbtq-inclusive
Elementary - Lesson plans focused mainly on kindness/anti-bullying and identity:
https://www.glsen.org/activity-list?program=All&type=92&topic=All&issue=All&grade=All
K-12 - Welcoming Schools provides a variety of useful lesson plans by topic. Primarily focused on elementary grades, you can also find lesson plans for secondary schools by going to resources/secondary. The link to lesson plan categories is below:
http://www.welcomingschools.org/resources/lesson-plans/
Secondary - Learning for Justice, formerly Teaching Tolerance, has excellent History and Social Science lesson plans, as well as some Reading and Language Arts. Searchable index here:
https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/lessons?keyword=LGBT
LGBTQ History – Our Families Coalition has created and maintains an Educator’s Guide for Teaching LGBTQ+ History. Their guide along with links to other helpful resources may found HERE.
LGBTQ+ LITERATURE & READ ALOUDS
Picture Books - Extensive list of LGBTQ inclusive and diverse picture books for young children and early elementary listed with descriptions and age range. https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/WS-Booklist-012121.pdf?mtime=20210121172249&focal=none
Middle Grades - Extensive list of diverse and LGBTQ+ inclusive books for middle grade students. Books include diverse families and ‘who you love’ topics and are listed with descriptions and age ranges. https://assets2.hrc.org/welcoming-schools/documents/WS_LGBTQ_Inclusive_Middle_Grade_Books_-_Family.pdf
Secondary - HRC’s Welcoming Schools curated booklists for middle and high school students includes lists for inclusive classrooms, preventing biased based bullying, supporting transgender and nonbinary students, and more. https://welcomingschools.org/resources/secondary-booklists
Elementary - Teachers can request free LGBTQ+ children’s literature from Pride and Less Prejudice. Check out their titles with descriptions HERE.
Elementary - Gender Nation donates to entire school districts from this great list of LGBTQ books for elementary school children. Check out their reading lists and request books for your district HERE.
Young Adult - Make It Safe Project donates LGBTQ+ themed Young Adult fiction and non-fiction books to schools, homeless shelters and detention centers. See their book list HERE.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS’ STATEMENTS ON LGBTQ STUDENTS
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
"School psychologists are ethically obligated to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity for the development and expression of their personal identity in a school climate that is safe, accepting, and respectful of all persons and free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and abuse."
National Education Association
The National Education Association firmly stands up for LGBTQ+ students. Education and advocacy resources are available through NEA’s Just and Equitable Schools and their advocacy page on EdJustice. They also curate a Toolkit for Educators at this NEA LGBTQ+ Resources page.
The American School Counselor Association
“School counselors promote equal opportunity and respect for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. School counselors recognize the school experience can be significantly more difficult for students with marginalized identities. School counselors work to eliminate barriers impeding LGBTQ student development and achievement.”
American Psychological Association
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists affirm that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality regardless of sexual orientation identity; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists affirm that diverse gender expressions, regardless of gender identity, and diverse gender identities, beyond a binary classification, are normal and positive variations of the human experience... "
National Association of Secondary School Principals
"Purpose: To affirm support for the rights, safety, and identity of all LGBTQ+ students, educators, and school leaders; acknowledge historic marginalization and institutional bias associated with LGBTQ+ individuals; state the association’s opposition to legislation and policies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals; and provide recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers and school leaders on how to better support LGBTQ+ students and educators in the K–12 education system."
RESPONDING TO CONCERNS
For teachers and administrators regarding how to think about inclusive curriculums and how to respond to concerns.
https://www.welcomingschools.org/resources/research/responding-to-concerns/
Gender Spectrum has created some very useful tools for responding to concerns from parents and the community about transgender students and teaching about gender at school:
"Responding to Concerns: Transgender Students"
"Responding to Concerns: Teaching about Gender"
AAPI SPECIFIC RESOURCES
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
NQAPIA promotes acceptance of LGBT people, and our rights and dignity, amongst Asian Americans, South Asians, Southeast Asians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). NQAPIA offers a series of one-page, translated leaflets for parents who have LGBT kids. The multilingual leaflets answer basic questions about being LGBT and dispel common misperceptions. They are in nineteen (19) Asian languages and scripts—the largest number of languages ever translated from a single LGBT document.
In addition, you can watch and share short, multilingual videos of AAPI parents who support their LGBTQ children--available in nine languages HERE.
Hosts virtual support groups for parents, family and friends of LGBTQ+ folks. Register for an upcoming group here.
This website offers a wealth of resources including links to AAPI LGBTQ+ supportive organizations, information links in multiple languages, personal stories of AAPI LGBTQ+ people and parents, and how to sign up for their monthly, virtual support meetings.
Curated Resources from API Equality LA
API Equality-LA and API Equality-Northern California partnered with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy to collect research on Asian Pacific Islander (API) views on same-sex marriage and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The snapshot reports of this research on four ethnic groups are presented here.
This report analyzes several data sources to provide information on adults who self-identify as AAPI and LGBT in the U.S. and by region, including separate findings on Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. It focuses on demographic characteristics and several key domains of well-being, including mental health, physical health, economic health, and social and cultural experiences.
GENDER DYSPHORIA
The American Psychiatric Association publishes diagnostic criteria in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria may be found HERE.
WPATH Standards of Care Vol. 7
"The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) promotes the highest ethical standards for healthcare of individuals through articulation of the Standards of Care (SOC)...The SOC are based on the best available science and expert professional consensus." Volume 8 is due out Spring, 2022.
In this informative article, Dr. Mandy Coles, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and co-director of the Child and Adolescent Trans/Gender Center for Health, Boston University, discusses medical interventions for gender dysphoria:
https://theconversation.com/im-a-pediatrician-who-cares-for-transgender-kids-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-social-support-puberty-blockers-and-other-medical-options-that-improve-lives-of-transgender-youth-157285
LATINX SPECIFIC RESOURCES
"A La Familia: A Conversation About Our Families, the Bible, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" may be found here along with a trailer for their video called "Before God, We Are All Family":
https://www.hrc.org/es/resources/a-la-familia
Resources in Spanish, including videos:
https://www.hrc.org/explore/topic/recursos-en-espanol-de-hrc
Resources in English, including videos:
https://www.familiaesfamilia.org/lets-talk
https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out-living-authentically-as-lgbtq-latinx-americans
"Supporting and Caring for Our Latino LGBTQ Youth”:
https://www.hrc.org/resources/latinx-lgbtq-youth-report
Video promoting the support group, Grupo La Familia.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WxtqnEbdjssFg_zf4eUbGDmknLX6WSzN/view?usp=sharing
LGBTQ+ TERMINOLOGY
Defining terminology for elementary school age students: https://welcomingschools.org/resources/definitions-lgbtq-elementary-school
Frequently updated, PFLAG National's Glossary of Terms is comprehensive with definitions that are both nuanced and succinct:
https://pflag.org/glossary
Mx. Titles
This title is pronounced like the word "mix" and is used as a non-gendered title (as opposed to Miss/Ms/Mrs/Mr). Though it is used by non-binary people (as well as others), I would not assume that a non-binary person uses this title. I would introduce myself and my pronouns and then ask "what are your pronouns?" And perhaps use the same exchange for what title a person uses. For example, "I use the title Ms. as in Ms. Etheridge. What title do you use?"
MENTAL HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES
Mental health, case management, and skill building services, free, 13 and older, must be OC resident, currently in person and virtual available.
Mental Health Services - non-crisis, sliding scale, currently all virtual
Virtual Youth Peer Support Groups, including Trans specific groups (parent permission is NOT required). Zoom schedule found HERE.
Q Chat Space: Throughout the week, youth can access chats, in English and Spanish, that last 1.5 hours and are facilitated by staff from LGBTQ+ centers from across the country.
Mental health services for LGBTQ and/or HIV positive or related, 12 and older, sliding scale and Cal optima, no waiting list (as of 12/14/20), Offices in Irvine and Santa Ana but currently all virtual.
(877) 565-8860. They are available 18 hours per day every day of the week.
LGBTQ+ focused crisis counseling available anytime 24/7, every day. Chat, call (1-866-488-7386), or text (text “Start” to 678-678) for support.
A fantastic and extremely helpful list of Trans Affirming resources. Orange County focused.
RELIGIOUS RESOURCES
Spiritual Healing for LGBTQ Christians.
Helps to connect LGBTQ Christians with affirming churches in their area.
The HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Religion and Faith Program
Produced by HRC (Human Rights Campaign), Coming Home to Islam and to Self is a guide for LGBTQ+ American Muslims looking to enrich their faith in Islam.
Intersections of Identity: LGBTQ and Religion
Affirming spiritual resources for LGBTQ+ people categorized by religious or spiritual identities.
Provides identity-enriching programs to promote a healthy integration of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities.
Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD)
A basic resource guide for LGBTQ+ Muslims in North America. Each category provides a link to the organization’s website, a description of what services they provide, and includes annotations that specify if they are geared towards Muslim people of specific descent/identities.
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
Talking to your child about what is means to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/talking-your-child-about-what-it-means-identify-lesbian-gay-bisexual-or-transgender
How to talk to your child who is questioning or identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or asexual (LGBTQA).
https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/how-talk-your-child-who-questioning-or-identifies-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender
SUPPORTIVE GROUP MEETINGS
TCAT, Trans Community and Allies Together, which is for transgender kids and their families/allies. They meet the first Sunday of each month from 3-4:30 pm.
LGBTQ+ Family Social Group of OC organizes monthly outings for families with LGBTQ kids of all ages, as well as for LGBTQ parents and their kids.
Grupo La Familia - Grupo de apoyo para madres, padres, y familia de jovenes y gente LGBTQ+. Por Zoom el Segundo domingo del mes, 1-2:30PM. Visite grupofamilialgbtq o contacte a Jonatan.Gutierrez@lgbtqcenteroc.org.
A group for parents and family members of LGBTQ kids. The South OC PFLAG chapter is very active and meets right off the 5 freeway in Laguna Hills. I am less familiar with the OC PFLAG chapter that meets in Orange, but have included the link below as it may be a more convenient location.
A transgender support group for people who are transgender or gender non-conforming, their families, friends and allies.
TRANS ATHLETES COMPETING IN SPORTS
All students have a right to feel safe and included at school. Whether in physical education class or in competitive sports, all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have a right to play and feel like they belong.