Coming Out - A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People https://www.thetrevorproject.org/trvr_support_center/coming-out/?fbclid=IwAR0qfdQc1OxJfEsT0f4rs67Gq-B5z3XF2ZK7m-YnlrQLY4z0nQ9ynnKMlG4 National Coming Out Day! It is a beautiful and fabulous day for some. A day full of nerves and trepidation for others, or a day to quietly just be safely who you are. Whatever this day is to you, please know you are an amazing human. There isn’t one right way to come out, but however you come out, it is your choice. Never let anyone take that away or diminish your choices or who you are. Always come out when it is safe for you. Coming out is more accepted than it used to be. And it doesn't just happen once. You will get to come out to many people throughout your lifetime and you always should get to have the control of how you do this! Coming out is harder during a pandemic. The pandemic has meant being by yourself a lot and not being able to connect with your queer community quite as much. Try reaching out online a bit more. The queer community online is vast! What can caregivers, parents, educators, and businesses do to help our LGBTQ2S communities?! Be supportive, affirming, positive, listen to your kids, friends, and family! Use pronouns in your emails or social media. Don’t assume. PLEASE! Just don’t assume. Put up posters, wear Pride pins, watch LGBTQ2S represented media, participate in rallies and parades, advocate for your community, start a GSA, volunteer! Have the conversations about what is happening on our news with the Black Lives Matters marches around the world, and why it’s happening. Conversation is important. When our kids, our friends, our neighbours see that everyone around us is open to conversation, they are more willing to trust and share with us. Be that safe space for someone.
Ways to Be an Ally, from Two Lifetimes of Learning https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/06/09/Ways-To-Be-An-Ally/?fbclid=IwAR3BWM1VCvZ65J4orn2fk_LITJfLYrguJDb092OK53hn6_U5d6VLuSDZs50 Allyship. Wikipedia - “the practice of emphasizing social justice, inclusion, and human rights by members of an ingroup, to advance the interests of an oppressed or marginalized outgroup.” On a personal note, Allyship is when someone continually advocates for human rights with no gain to themselves. They do it more than once a year. It is not an after thought, or by invitation. It is not for a perfunctory flag raising, crosswalk painting, or photo op celebration. When you truly are an ally, you are involved. You live with and you love the very people you advocate for and ally yourself with. Please read this amazing article on Ways to Be an Ally, from Two Lifetimes of Learning. “Equality, the idea of treating everyone the same, is not the same as equity and doesn’t support people who have had generations of disadvantage. And in this moment, we know that anti-Black racism urgently needs to be combatted. It needs to be fought so urgently that people are risking their lives in the middle of a global pandemic to gather, protest and make their voices heard. Each and every one of us has the job of listening.” “What we need is allyship to improve equity for all.”
How can schools support LGBTQ2 students? https://www.edcan.ca/articles/how-can-schools-support-lgbtq2-students/?fbclid=IwAR09BkS3dObHadW_J47r563UrnKR3nmmLhKLlgeUM6Nv6QM29AXr4YBMARU October is LGBTQ History month. Here are 4 ways schools can support LGBTQ2 students. LGBTQ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents, Counselors, and Social Workers https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/online-msw-program/lgbtq-youth-a-guide-for-foster-parents-counselors-and-social-workers/ Credit for this resource goes to: Ohio University Growing up can be difficult for anyone, but LGBTQ youth are especially vulnerable to issues like bullying, mental health crises, and homelessness than their peers. Since LGBTQ youth are often a vulnerable population, it’s critical for foster parents, counselors, social workers, and other people who work with at-risk youth to be supportive and understanding of these issues. This page will help you to better understand the issues that LGBTQ youth can face and expose you to resources that may be helpful if there is an LGBTQ young person in your life. You will find this information especially helpful if you are a foster parent, counselor, or social worker who works with LGBTQ youth.
How White People Can Hold Each Other Accountable to Stop Institutional Racism https://www.teenvogue.com/story/white-people-can-hold-each-other-accountable-to-stop-institutional-racism?fbclid=IwAR2T7DkZe75phuRY21B9U7fRdE0lzk6_kVqhOQhE-QTzKgmueJPWFCRI3As It isn’t up to white people to decide what is and is not racist. It’s our job as white people to listen to black people and people of color when they say that something is inherently racist, instead of making excuses and upholding the systems, words, and actions harming them. “I need white accomplices to use their privilege, and bodies (if they're able) to actively interrupt white supremacy. I need white accomplices who understand that it's not going to be comfortable. I need white accomplices dedicated to listening and supporting people of color.”
Don't Force Your Kids to Hug and Kiss Relatives Pediatrician Says https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/12/03/forced-affection-holidays-kids-family "If you force children to hug or kiss someone who they may not know very well, then they're not having a say in the decision on who to show their affection to. And then they begin to feel that showing this affection is expected at someone else's askinSo far , and that their feelings and thoughts don't really matter on the issue, which is not a very positive experience for them."
Teaching Kids About Boundaries https://childmind.org/article/teaching-kids-boundaries-empathy/ Kids should be allowed to decide for themselves if, and when, they want to show affection. “Grandma may be expecting a big hug when she comes over, but we want kids to understand that things like hugs and kisses, whether they’re getting or giving them, should be a choice.”
6 Ways We (Unintentionally) Violate Children’s Boundaries https://www.scarymommy.com/unintentional-ways-we-violate-childrens-boundaries/ Adolescence is emotionally challenging enough without knowing that your parents have proclaimed your every action to the entire family and all of their friends on Facebook. When our children do things, they are telling them to us in confidence with the hope of confidentiality. Let’s teach our children they have a right to privacy.
My Child Is Adorable, But That Doesn’t Mean You Can Touch Her https://www.scarymommy.com/toddlers-consent-touch-bodily-autonomy/ If we want our children to self-advocate and seek consent from others later in life, we have to start respecting their personal space early and make sure they understand that they are entitled to it.
4 PEOPLE YOUR CHILD DOESN’T HAVE TO HUG DURING THE HOLIDAYS https://defendinnocence.org/4-people-your-child-doesnt-have-to-hug-holidays/ During the holidays, your child will be interacting with a lot of family and friends. When you get together with loved ones, tell your kid that they can decide how to interact. Here are four people your kid doesn’t have to hug this holiday season. If your child wants to hug, cool. If not, no big deal. Don’t force the hug.
Making Your School a Safe Space for LGBTQ Students https://schoolleadersnow.weareteachers.com/create-inclusive-environment-for-lgbt-students/ I remember the first time that I read about someone who loved like I do. My palms started to sweat, and I realized for the first time in my life that I was exactly who I was supposed to be. This moment literally changed my outlook on my own life. So many LGBTQ students yearn for this moment, but unfortunately schools have not always been a place where they can have it. Many kids struggle through their time in school, not feeling welcome and also not feeling safe. However, schools can make a difference. The five strategies below provide action-oriented practices that can positively impact your LGBTQ students’ experience while they are in school.
Helping Young People Stay Afloat: A Qualitative Study of Community Resources and Supports for LGBTQ Adolescents in the US and Canada https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100798/#!po=70.9790 Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs) at school were a subset of LGBTQ youth-serving organizations that were distinguished by their association with schools, allowing for connection with supportive peers and adults who were consistently and easily accessible (in contrast to a drop-in center that might be visited less frequently or have a rotating staff). GSAs were often seen as a significant source of support for LGBTQ youth, meeting a need that was not available in the community more broadly. When asked where they might take an LGBTQ friend in need of support, one participant responded: I think I’d take them to the school… because really the [GSA] is the only thing that I know of, and it’s really supportive…. If someone comes in and they have a problem we’re, like, all right. Come here and we’ll comfort you. (pansexual, trans, European, rural, age 17, British Columbia)
Why LGBTQ+ Education Needs to Start Before High School https://www.them.us/story/lgbtq-education-needs-to-start-before-high-school The middle school’s first GSA meeting was a success, with at least 20 kids attending and half identifying as straight. Cupcakes were devoured, new acquaintances were made, and others made the shift from acquaintances to friends. There were kids all over the gender and sexuality spectrum. The slideshow introduced the GSA’s mission and goals, and included a link to a supplemental website the kids created. The one at the second meeting was a game show that tested knowledge of gender and sexuality terminology.
On Intersectionality and Allyship https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/on-intersectionality-and-allyship?fbclid=IwAR0v07hl8w2KxjA9QQ5oyISip6mi-kTWzrS8U0NE6b_Cvba-c2f2n4_NroA If we want to be allies to our students, we have to recognize—and honor—their full identities. That means also recognizing and working to remedy interlocking systems of oppression. “We should encourage students to strive to be better allies by directly acknowledging and addressing how privilege contributes to oppressive systems at school and in their community. We can help students recognize that ignoring one part of a person’s identity is an erasure of their lived experience.” “By building classroom and school cultures that affirm all identities, guiding classroom discussions where students learn to be allies and leading the fight against hate within our communities, we can create an environment, inside and outside of school, where people of all identities can safely be themselves.”
Supporting LGBTQ Students in Elementary School https://www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-lgbtq-students-elementary-school?fbclid=IwAR0BoyyrDaNoePiQP3622zcglgdfTAtlKkKVTOigbI93rCGV_SU4IsI14OI Three strategies elementary school teachers can use to foster a sense of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students. One of our jobs as educators is to welcome students’ perspectives into the classroom. But we can also dismantle ways of thinking that reinforce the gender dichotomy and heteronormativity, and we must create safe spaces for children to explore their identities and empathize with those who are different from them.
When Autistic Students are LGBTQ+ What do educators need to know about autistic LGBTQ2+ teens, and what can they do? https://www.edcan.ca/articles/lgbtq2-autistic-students/?fbclid=IwAR1zI-6gcoyDLjbIF8cnAzrXVZsJ7DUEGEnL6dnbuidUTrwydscbfd7Lyoc Like other minorities, LGBTQ2+ and autistic teens face instances of marginalization and misunderstanding in various contexts, including within their own families. Both groups may struggle while negotiating common social situations such as dating and sexuality. The impacts of stereotyping, social exclusion and lack of self-acceptance place them at increased risk of mental health issues. Teens on the spectrum who do not conform to sex and gender norms have an additional set of challenges. Autistic LGBTQ2+ youth are more isolated and have fewer peer connections to discuss, share and ask questions about their sexual orientation and gender identity. They are more likely to have their gender dysphoria or same-sex attractions dismissed or challenged by people close to them. They also have more difficulties navigating systems and getting healthcare and other supports. Missed social and contextual cues can place autistic youth at high risk for victimization, bullying, sexual assault, and risky sexual behaviour. This is especially true for autistic females, who experience three times the rate of sexual victimization as their neurotypical peers.
Their Truth to Tell https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/11/lgbtq-allyship-kids-privacy-acceptance.html For kids who identify as LGBTQ, the dangers of their gender identity or sexual orientation being shared without their explicit consent are much higher. There’s the bullying that more than one-third of LGBTQ kids face on school property, for example, and the growing number of homicides and other hate crimes against the LGBTQ community. And there’s the fact that one in four LGBTQ kids are thrown out of their own homes just for coming out to their parents.
Why you shouldn’t force your kids to hug relatives https://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/why-you-shouldnt-force-your-kids-to-hug-relatives/ Consent lets us express positive feelings for others in ways that feel good for us and good for them, which is the whole point of hugs, kisses, snuggles and, someday, sex. Starting these lessons early will help kids define boundaries and express themselves in their relationships now and for the rest of their lives.
Why experts say you shouldn't make your kids kiss relatives https://www.today.com/parents/why-it-s-never-ok-parents-force-kids-hug-adults-t118863 Parents often teach their children that “no one gets to touch you without permission and your body is private,” but when parents allow Great Uncle Arthur to force a kiss on their kids, it creates uncertainty. Do children have to listen to adults no matter what even when it comes to their bodies? Or can they say ‘no’ even if the person asking is grandma or an uncle? How to Truly Support LGBTQ+ Families and Kids in The Classroom https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/lgbtq-families-kids-classroom_ca_5d681ecde4b0488c0d118c76?ncid=other_facebook_eucluwzme5k&utm_campaign=share_facebook&fbclid=IwAR2BC9hCS5CdjrvvSLp3WAeXwUIPoJ2XG5BkZ25JIhW8ztZBGdiybtNvLAY There are many ways to be inclusive in a school and classroom! -Removing references to gender or gendered play. -Read diverse books all year long! -Source inclusive classroom resources, or advocate for more LGBTQ2 celebration. -Seeing “parent or caregiver” instead of “mother/ father” on paperwork. -Symbols can go a long way; starting points include safer space stickers, gender and sexual diversity represented in books and posters, and anti-discrimination policies in prominent places. These are also important practices you can form in your place of business and home in some cases. Be inclusive with your language, practices, and policies!