Mission of the Spruce Grove GSA
- To come together to provide an accepting environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies.
- To provide anonymous peer support and referrals.
- Training youth to support other youth.
- Providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.
- Youth of all sexual and gender identities are celebrated and supported.
Purpose:
- Provide a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ youth growth and community awareness.
- To bring together youth of various ages, gender, religion, ethnicity, schools, and towns, to enrich our growth in society.
Goals:
- Bring together awareness within our community of LGBTQ minorities.
- Promote self esteem and integration of youth into the larger community.
- Provide a safe space.
- Interaction with peers/peer support.
- Opportunities for leadership development.
- Youth advocacy.
Rules:
Youth centred * Confidentiality * Anti-oppression * Anti-racism * Harm reduction * Growth and learning * Collaboration.
Members range in age and gender. We respect many racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
- To come together to provide an accepting environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies.
- To provide anonymous peer support and referrals.
- Training youth to support other youth.
- Providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.
- Youth of all sexual and gender identities are celebrated and supported.
Purpose:
- Provide a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ youth growth and community awareness.
- To bring together youth of various ages, gender, religion, ethnicity, schools, and towns, to enrich our growth in society.
Goals:
- Bring together awareness within our community of LGBTQ minorities.
- Promote self esteem and integration of youth into the larger community.
- Provide a safe space.
- Interaction with peers/peer support.
- Opportunities for leadership development.
- Youth advocacy.
Rules:
Youth centred * Confidentiality * Anti-oppression * Anti-racism * Harm reduction * Growth and learning * Collaboration.
Members range in age and gender. We respect many racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Link to TSER LGBTQ definitions
There is nothing inherently problematic with the asterisk but it’s often applied in inaccessible, binarist, and transmisogynist ways. It is unnecessary and should not be used. Claiming the asterisk itself is fundamentally oppressive denies accountability and ignores the culture of binarism and transmisogyny that affects the community. People also often misattribute its history to cisgender and binarist people.
http://www.transstudent.org/asterisk/
http://www.transstudent.org/asterisk/
Institute for Sexual Minority Studies & Services
Family Resilience Project
https://www.ualberta.ca/ismss/community/family-resilience-project
(780)492-5205
families@ualberta.ca
Through a partnership with the University of Alberta’s Counselling and Clinical Services, the Family Resilience Project offers free short-term counselling to sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ) children, youth, and families.
Family Resilience Project
https://www.ualberta.ca/ismss/community/family-resilience-project
(780)492-5205
families@ualberta.ca
Through a partnership with the University of Alberta’s Counselling and Clinical Services, the Family Resilience Project offers free short-term counselling to sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ) children, youth, and families.
SAFE SPACE RULES
sprucegrovegsasociety.org www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ Instagram@sprucegrovegsa
- To provide a Safe Space for all LGBTQ Youth and their Allies.
- To Feel Safe about any topic without being judged.
- Information shared within the GSA is NOT disclosed or shared with anyone outside of the GSA.
- No naming or outing anyone outside of the GSA.
- Emotions are okay.
- Be respectful of others feelings about sensitive topics.
- It is absolutely okay to question your gender and your sexuality.
- Privacy is Important. Respect confidentiality.
- Respect the space and the people within it.
- Stories, comments, names, and pronouns are sometimes intensely personal and PRIVATE. Do Not Share.
- There is a ZERO tolerance on bullying.
sprucegrovegsasociety.org www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ Instagram@sprucegrovegsa
Spruce Grove GSA!!!
LGBTQ+ and Allies are welcome!
Ages 12-24
Know that there are others around you that
will love and support you no matter what.
Never feel pressured to put a label on yourself
or come out if you don’t feel ready to do so.
We are committed to ensuring youth have a safe and inclusive
environment where LGBTQ+ folk and Allies feel included, protected, and respected.
You Be You. The World will Adjust.
1A Fieldstone Drive, St Andrew’s United Church
sprucegrovegsasociety.org www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ Instagram@sprucegrovegsa
LGBTQ+ and Allies are welcome!
Ages 12-24
Know that there are others around you that
will love and support you no matter what.
Never feel pressured to put a label on yourself
or come out if you don’t feel ready to do so.
We are committed to ensuring youth have a safe and inclusive
environment where LGBTQ+ folk and Allies feel included, protected, and respected.
You Be You. The World will Adjust.
1A Fieldstone Drive, St Andrew’s United Church
sprucegrovegsasociety.org www.facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/ Instagram@sprucegrovegsa
How to be A Transgender Ally
Coming Out! A Gender identity is personal. IF someone chooses to come out to you as transgender this means they trust you. Make sure to honour that trust by checking with them before telling anyone else as they may not want others to know.
Just Ask! It is important to respect the names and pronouns that people prefer. If you are unsure, simply ask. “What are your preferred pronouns?”
Show Your Support! Make sure to show your support for your transgender friends by challenging transphobia when you see it.
Real Name? Asking someone what their “real” name is implies that their chosen name is in some way invalid or not real. In the same way, asking someone what their “real” gender is disrespects their own gender identity.
Anatomy- Do not ask questions regarding anatomy. Or questions if they have transitioned or if they will be transitioning in the future. These are PERSONAL!
Pictures- Do not ask to see pictures of a person before they transitioned. Do not show pictures!
Names- Do not use a persons former name after they have transitioned.
Be Inclusive! Don’t Segregate! Recognize that transgender people have as much right to use the same facilities as you do! Harassment in the bathrooms is very real. Offering to accompany a transgender person to use a bathroom is a good step. But respect their choice to accept or decline your offer.
Coming Out! A Gender identity is personal. IF someone chooses to come out to you as transgender this means they trust you. Make sure to honour that trust by checking with them before telling anyone else as they may not want others to know.
Just Ask! It is important to respect the names and pronouns that people prefer. If you are unsure, simply ask. “What are your preferred pronouns?”
Show Your Support! Make sure to show your support for your transgender friends by challenging transphobia when you see it.
Real Name? Asking someone what their “real” name is implies that their chosen name is in some way invalid or not real. In the same way, asking someone what their “real” gender is disrespects their own gender identity.
Anatomy- Do not ask questions regarding anatomy. Or questions if they have transitioned or if they will be transitioning in the future. These are PERSONAL!
Pictures- Do not ask to see pictures of a person before they transitioned. Do not show pictures!
Names- Do not use a persons former name after they have transitioned.
Be Inclusive! Don’t Segregate! Recognize that transgender people have as much right to use the same facilities as you do! Harassment in the bathrooms is very real. Offering to accompany a transgender person to use a bathroom is a good step. But respect their choice to accept or decline your offer.