Feeling safe and connected at school is important for all students, but for those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, that sense of security is often out of reach. Offering real support and allyship to these students is the best way to provide them with this missing sense of security, as we acknowledge and celebrate them.
As educators, we care for our students and always attempt to do what’s best for them. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, transgender students are among our most vulnerable. What specific actions can be taken to create the kind of change necessary to truly support transgender youth in our schools? Here are five steps you can take today to become an ally in more than just name.
- Educate Yourself
Understand the meaning of gender identity and, unless confirmed by the individual, never presume to know someone else’s. Learn about the fight for equal rights and the legal issues faced by transgender people. In daily conversation, begin using terminology that respects individual identities. If you are unsure, it may be acceptable to ask a person for their pronouns. If you slip up, an apology goes a long way. Good intentions and kindness are received as demonstrations of respect.
- Prevent Harm
Be aware that emotional security is just as important as physical safety. Social exclusion is often the most damaging reality for transgender students. LGBTQ+ students are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Your active support can save lives.
- Plan (Ahead) for Change
Start working on the school climate even before an issue is raised. Address the hidden curriculum that assumes students are straight, binary, and cisgender by making room for other possibilities. Inclusivity in all aspects of school is paramount. All staff and students should be encouraged to get involved by committing to safety and equality. Homophobia and transphobia should be as immediately unacceptable as other forms of discrimination. Offering gender-neutral washrooms for students, staff, and visitors is a great place to start and an undeniable way to visibly support the cause.
- Put Policy to Work
When school policy explicitly protects and supports transgender students, then school culture will begin to nurture positive change. Start by rewriting policies related to name changes, dress code, bullying and harassment, curriculum and instruction, physical education and sports, and washroom, locker room, and dormitory procedures. From there, reconsider any policy that does not provide truly equal opportunities for all students. The safety and security that these policies can provide for students should be extended to all staff as well.
- Celebrate Equality
Ensuring that transgender students feel safe cannot be the end goal. Build on that safety and security by first developing tolerance, which inevitably leads to acceptance, which is the precursor to equality. Once true equality is achieved, it is time to celebrate the diversity of the school community.
March 31st is the International Transgender Day of Visibility, (or Trans Day of Visibility) and it is a time to raise awareness about the daily inequities faced by transgender people along with the celebration of their diverse contributions to our schools and larger societies. It’s also the time to stand up and be counted as a true ally to transgender people as they fight for equality. For educators, it’s a reminder of the essential roles we play in making our schools models of inclusivity. Transgender rights are human rights.
