LGBTQ 101
How to support students, parents and coworkers
TERMINOLOGY
What in the world are all those letters for??
Definitions:
• LGBTQ: Abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Queer. Also seen as GLBTQ and is
inclusive of all backgrounds
• Lesbian: A term given to females who are attracted sexually
and emotionally to some other females.
• Gay: A term typically given to males who are attracted
sexually and emotionally to some other males.
• The term Gay might apply to both males and females depending
on context or even the conversation
• Bisexual: A term given to people who are attracted sexually
and emotionally to some males and some females.
• Transgender: A umbrella term describing the state of a
person’s gender identity which does not necessarily
match the gender they were assigned at birth.
• Other words commonly used are female-to-male (FTM),
male-to-female (MTF), cross-dresser, drag queen and
king, and genderqueer.
• Transgender people may or may not decide to alter
their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.
• Note: Being transgender does not imply any specific
sexual orientation.
• Queer: Term used to refer to LGB and often T people.
Some use queer as an alternative to gay to be more
inclusive, as it does not convey a sense of gender.
• Has had derogatory meaning in the past; recently been
reclaimed by many (especially youth) as a positive term
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
• Sexual Orientation: preferred term used when referring
to an individual's physical and/or emotional attraction to
the same and/or opposite gender. "Heterosexual,"
"bisexual" and "homosexual" are all sexual orientations.
• Gender Identity: refers to all of the external
characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as
either masculine or feminine, such as dress, grooming,
mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions.
• Everyone has a sexual orientation AND a gender identity
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Orientation:
Romantic & Sexual Attractions
straight
bisexual
gay/lesbian
Sexual Behavior:
Sexual Experiences
opposite sex
both sexes
same sex
Gender Identity
Biological Sex: Assigned at Birth
male
intersex
female
Gender Identity: person’s sense of self
man
genderqueer
woman
Gender Expression: what is portrayed outwardly
masculine
androgynous
feminine
People identify in a variety of ways:
Biological Sex
Male
Intersex
Female
Gender Identity
Man
Androgynous
Gender Queer
Woman
Gender Expression
Masculine
Androgynous
Feminine
Biological Sex
Male
Intersex
Female
Gender Identity
Man
Androgynous
Gender Queer
Woman
Gender Expression
Masculine
Androgynous
Feminine
WHY IS THIS TOPIC
IMPORTANT?
Startling statistics about LGBTQ students:
• 72% of students hear homophobic remarks (faggot, dyke) frequently or
often at school.
• 42% of students felt unsafe at school because of their gender
expression.
• 61% of students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual
orientation.
Sadly, homophobia and heterosexism are still very much present in
many of our schools and communities.
Creating inclusive curriculum and establishing accepting classroom and
school climates improves the educational experience for all students,
families and teachers.
Transgendered students:
• 55% of transgendered youth report being physically
abused based on their gender identity or expression.
• 74% of transgendered youth report being verbally
harassed based on their gender identity or expression.
• More than 50% of transgender students attempt suicide.
In our own backyard:
• In 2013: A 6-year-old transgendered student in Fountain,
CO was at the center of a civil-rights controversy.
• Coy was born a boy but lives life as a girl. From Eagleside
Elementary School, “Coy was born a male and at least some of the
parents and students are likely to become uncomfortable with his
continued use of the girls' restroom.”
• The decision marks the first ruling in the nation holding that
transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms that
match the gender with which they identify, and the most
comprehensive ruling ever supporting the rights of transgender
people to access bathrooms without harassment or discrimination.
Statistics about LGBTQ co-workers:
• The majority of LGBTQ workers (51%) hide their identities to
most of their coworkers.
• 58% of LGBTQ workers say someone at work makes a joke or
derogatory comment about LGBT people at least once in a
while.
• For many LGBTQ individuals, the work environment is fraught
with anxiety. Derogatory comments go unchecked, exclusive
language is used in workplace communications and energy
that could be spent on working and creating healthy
relationships with coworkers is instead spent on maintaining
barriers, avoiding social events and learning how to answer
questions about their home lives evasively.
Laws in Colorado:
• SB 08-200: Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act
• In May 2008, Colorado expanded its anti-discrimination
law to include protections based on sexual orientation and
gender identity.
• This law protects LGBTQ students and adults from harassment and
discrimination in schools across Colorado.
• HB 11-1254: Anti-Bullying Legislation
• In May 2011, Colorado became the 13th state to pass an
anti-bullying law that includes race, religion, disability, sex,
sexual orientation and gender identity.
RESPONDING TO
QUESTIONS ABOUT LGBTQ
TOPICS
Teachable moments
When talking with a first-grader? When
talking with a fifth-grader?
• “What does ‘gay’ mean?”
• You overhear a student say, “That’s gay.”
• Can two boys or two girls get married?
• You overhear a child say, “Gay people are bad.”
ABOUT FAMILIES WITH GAY OR
LESBIAN PARENTS
• How can she have two moms? Which one is the real one?
• She has two dads? How is that possible? Don’t you need
a man and a woman to have a baby?
• My grandma says it’s wrong for two men to get married.
QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS FROM
PARENTS/GUARDIANS OR
COLLEAGUES
• Aren’t the students too young to talk about gay topics?
(from a colleague or parent/guardian)
• I don’t want my child to think that being gay is an OK
option for them.
• My religion teaches that it is wrong to be gay.
• Aren’t all male elementary teachers gay? (I don’t want a
male kindergarten teacher as they might be gay.)
WHAT CAN I DO NOW?
Curriculum must be LGBTQ inclusive starting in
elementary school for the following reasons:
• All students should feel that they and their family are
included in their school community
• The relationship of young children to their family is central
to understanding “who they are”
• Students learn more effectively when they see themselves
reflected in the curriculum
• Students’ perception of school/teacher support is directly
tied to their academic performance
• Pressure to conform to gender roles can limit social and
academic development
• Name-calling and bullying have a negative impact on
academic outcomes
How to make an inclusive classroom:
• Use inclusive language
• Use precise terms like Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ).
• Use terms like partner instead of boyfriend and girlfriend or
husband and wife. Or grownup instead of mom and dad.
• Never tolerate abusive language in your classroom or
in the halls
• Language like, “That’s so gay” or “You’re such a fag” is common in
schools, and it actively creates an unsafe environment for LGBTQ
students and LGBTQ Allies.
• Don’t simply be punitive with hurtful language. Instead, explain
why it is not welcome and is hurtful. This helps students
understand why they shouldn’t use the language rather than just
making them avoid using it around you.
• Have books and other material that includes ALL
types of families.
• See resource list on intern website.
• Recognize that you’re not an expert. You will make
mistakes and occasionally be insensitive.
• Humble yourself and apologize where necessary; learn from your
mistakes, and always try to broaden your understanding of LGBTQ
issues so you can best support all of your students.
• What else can you do???
RESOURCES
There is SOOO much out there!
• HRC.org
• Welcomingschools.org
• One Colorado
• I have posted a ton of information on the intern website.
• PLEASE feel free to contact me for more!!
• mary.young.83@gmail.com