Resources for Educators | NarwhalMagicKindness

Teachers Are Everything

We call on you to provide all students with a safe, trusting, loving classroom. Never has there been a more significant need for teachers to provide affirming spaces free from transphobia, homophobia, racism, and harm. It has been firmly established that transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming and two-spirit students face higher rates of bullying, discrimination, and violence in schools. Those on the economic fringes and those stuck at home with abusive and/or non-affirming families are at even higher risk for poor outcomes. We hope our website provides teachers with various resources to make their classrooms a gentle and kind place for transgender, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender fluid (TNBY2S) students. Our founder, Jan Moore, frequently writes about schools and things teachers can do to create welcoming spaces on her blog at: www.jan-moore.com

Suicide Help Lines

The Trevor Project

Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention resources to LGBTQ young people under the age of 25. Trained counselors are available 24/7 to talk over the phone, chat via their website or text.

1-866-488-7386

Suicide Prevention Help Line

Has both a toll-free number they staff 24/7 and a website offering web chat services. There is also a page dedicated to LGBTQ support.

1-800-273-8255

Trans Lifeline

"Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people."

1-877-565-8860 US

1-877-330-6366 Canada

National School Board Association, December 2021

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"Public discourse and communication with parents and community members are essential to school board governance. However, the scenes at board meetings over the past several months show that the goal of many speakers is not to participate in reasoned debate. Instead, it is disruption, intimidation, and threats of violence, often for a social media audience."

US Department of Education: Supporting Transgender Youth in Schools, June 2021

Every student deserves to learn in a safe and supportive setting, free from discrimination. As the Department of Education has reaffirmed, discrimination based on sex—including sexual orientation and gender identity—isn’t just wrong, it’s prohibited in America’s schools. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students experience bullying, harassment, and other discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Teach For America: Standing Up For Transgender Students

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"When a school does have policies in place that support and affirm a student’s gender identity, it can have a positive impact on transgender and gender-expansive students, as well as the school climate as a whole. This is especially true when parents, students, educators, and administrators are willing to work together to determine the best ways to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Advocates are working to change the narrative for transgender students by normalizing their existence and fighting for their rights."

A Call to Action: LGBTQ Youth Need Inclusive Sex Education

A new issue brief by Advocates for Youth, Answer, GLSEN, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) highlights the dearth of inclusive sex education programs and the missed opportunities to make a difference for LGBTQ youth.

Time Magazine: Laverne Cox Will Show You the Long, Intense Fight for Transgender Rights

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In this beautifully animated video, Laverne Cox, Molly Crabapple, Zackary Drucker, Chase Strangio, Kim Boekbinder & Jim Batt bring to life history in front of our eyes.

Largest Survey Of Transgender And Nonbinary Youth Says More Than Half Seriously Considered Suicide

"In its second annual National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, The Trevor Project uncovered some alarming information about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other gender nonconforming young Americans: 48% of this group said that in the last 12 months, they engaged in self-harm; that number rose to 60% for trans and nonbinary youth. Even more worrisome, 40% of those surveyed reported having seriously considered attempting suicide during that period..."

Largest Survey Of Transgender And Nonbinary Youth Says More Than Half Seriously Considered Suicide

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Transgender students in schools with supportive policies were less likely to miss school because they felt unsafe and felt greater belonging to their school communities. Yet only 12% of transgender and gender nonconforming students reported that their school or district had official policies or guidelines supporting transgender or gender nonconforming students. Visit this graphic provided by GLSEN, The MAP Project and National Center for Transgender Equality.

Schools In Transition

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The groundbreaking guide, written for administrators, teachers, parents, and other adults who work with youth, covers topics ranging from basic concepts of gender and the importance of affirming gender identity, to best practices for restroom access and working with unsupportive parents. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Gender Spectrum led the effort to produce the guide, joined by HRC Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the National Education Association (NEA).

Definitions

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Terms are always changing in the LGBTQ+ community. This list will be updated as often as possible to keep up with the rapid proliferation of queer and trans language.

Definitions

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Transgender Identity and Experiences of Violence Victimization, Substance Use, Suicide Risk, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — 19 States and Large Urban School Districts, 2017 Source: CDC MMWR

National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021

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The past year has been incredibly difficult for so many, but we also know that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth have faced unique challenges. The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health sheds light on many of these challenges by capturing the experiences of nearly 35,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13–24 across the United States.