Heading Back to School? We Are Here to Help!
Back to school season is here! For many, this is an exciting time full of new pencil cases and exciting opportunities for new learning and new friends. For others, though, heading back to school can be anxiety-inducing, especially considering many schools and colleges are not as inclusive of LGBTQIA students as they should be.
So, we put together a list of past advice, articles, and resources available to help you, your child, and their teachers work to make safer learning environments.
On Inclusivity and Support:
7 Questions to Ask Your Trans Kid's School by Grace M.
Making Your Classroom More LGBTQ-Inclusive by Sara Schmidt-Kost
What to Do When Your Student Comes Out to You by Teresa Kane
How Do I Talk to My Students About the President? By Sara Schmidt-Kost
Navigating Censorship of LGBTQ Media for Kids by Lindsay Amer
How to Support Students During the Day of Silence by Sara Schmidt-Kost
How to Handle Parental Censorship of LGBTQ Books by Sara Schmidt-Kost
On Bullying:
Addressing Bullying in Schools by Sara Schmidt-Kost
My Daughter Came Out, and I'm Worried for Her Safety by Laurin Mayeno
My Son Is Already Bullied for Being Black, Should He Wait to Come Out? by Aisha
Bullying: “How Can I Help?” by Laurin Mayeno
Son Bullied for “Girly” Backpack by Karen Thompson
Covert Bullying by Anna Krieger
Supporting Your Eyeliner-Wearing Son at Catholic School by Julie Tarney
On College:
Choosing the Right College by Lisa
10 Things to Look For in an LGBTQ-Friendly College by Sarah Simon
10 Ways to Prepare Your LGBTQ Kid for College by Sarah Simon
Being Out at College by Sarah Simon
Coming Out in College Athletics by Lauren Neidigh
How to Foster Safe, Healthy, and Productive Dialogue in the Classroom by Cheryl Clarke
Be sure to check out these other national resources, too!
Campus Pride: A national network of college students all around the country working to create safer college campuses for the LGBTQ community.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN): A national organization that works to make schools safer for LGBT students through policy changes, research, and giving teachers and administrators the resources they need to make their schools more inclusive.
LGBTQ Student Resources & Support: A guide for LGBTQ students to find support and resources when experiencing bullying or discrimination both at the high school and college levels.
LGBTQ Scholarships: A list of scholarships for LGBTQ students at the graduate and PhD level in a variety of subjects, including law, mathematics, business, and social work.
All of us here at My Kid Is Gay hope you have a happy, safe, and inclusive school year!
A long list of helpful resources—both here at My Kid Is Gay and beyond—to help teachers everywhere learn about the LGBTQ community and how to create classrooms that are inclusive of LGBTQ identities.