Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected at school. Most young people spend many of their waking hours in this environment, surrounded by educators, administrators and peers. School can be a place for students to explore who they are and how they identify, but this can be extremely challenging if students are not all represented or included in spaces, policies, guidelines, practices or materials. It can be devastating for a student to face harassment, discrimination or a lack of resources. Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning (2SLGBTQ+) youth deserve a school environment where they are free and safe to be themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and where they are represented as equal persons in all facets of school life. Experiencing a school to be affirming of their identity, teaching2SLGBTQ+ youth about their history, and addressing topics relevant to their lived experience truly contributes to positive mental health and well-being. There is a place and supportive rationale for this important work in faith-based schools as well as in public schools.
Educators, administrators and students are key to creating a safer equitable school climate that facilitates safety, inclusion, welcome, and acceptance for all.
Included within this resource are opportunities to create safer and more inclusive schools and classrooms for 2SLGBTQ+ people.
Scan your resources to see if there are ways that you can share multiple perspectives, identities, and viewpoints – and help students see themselves in what they are reading and studying.
Here’s how…
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Use textbooks, magazines, novels, films, and images that represent diverse gender identities and sexual orientations and/or highlight the positive impact of allies
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When giving examples of role models or people who have been successful in a given field, include members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
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Talk positively about 2SLGBTQ+ people
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Integrate 2SLGBTQ+ history, topics and accomplishments into lessons or discussions
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Find ways to bring in 2SLGBTQ+ classroom speakers and guests who come from diverse backgrounds. 2SLGBTQ+ people come in different shapes, ethnicities, classes, ability groups, and religions
Do your lessons and classroom conversations use gender-inclusive language?
Break the binary (male or female) by finding ways to include all students in your language.
Here’s how…
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Introduce yourself with your name and pronouns
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Ask for and use a students’ chosen name and their pronouns (e.g., she/her; he/him; they/them)
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Edit attendance lists so regular teachers and substitutes can use the student’s chosen name and pronouns
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When addressing students, avoid using gendered terms and instead, consider using: “Hey, everyone,” “Hello, friends,” “Listen up, all”, “Good morning everyone” or “Hi, people” or “students should turn in their papers” instead of “each student should turn in his or her paper"
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Question whether gender is important to include in an example or test and if not, use a gender-neutral pronoun such as "they" or gender-neutral names (e.g., The cheese costs $1.35 and Sloan pays $2.00. How much change should they get?)
Do your classroom activities and structures represent and support diverse gender identities?
Challenge typical ways of grouping students.
Here’s how…
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Avoid forming boys’ and girls’ lines to go to lunch or recess, dividing toys or games by gender, alternating student seating by boys and girls or using gendered colours (e.g., pink and blue) in the classroom for labels of students’ names or storage spaces
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Group your students based on non-gendered categories that speak to all students (e.g., by birthday, number of letters in their name, or colour of their shoes)
Recognize that students may not be ‘out’ everywhere or with everyone in their life.
Here’s how...
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Understand that being ‘out’ to one person doesn’t mean being out to all people (and ‘out’ can refer to gender, sexuality or the place in their journey that a person is on with different people)
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Don’t assume a child is ‘out’ at home (for example: Ensure that the name, sex and gender on take-home materials like report cards reflects how a child identifies when they are at home)
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Make the classroom a space that protects a student’s transgender identity should they wish to do so, and wait to decorate rooms with students’ names until you get to know your students
Are your lessons reinforcing or challenging common stereotypes?
Find ways to challenge misinformation and the status quo so all students feel valued and included in their classrooms.
Here’s how…
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Avoid categorizing activities, colours, clothes, or toys by gender (e.g., there are no “girls’ sports” or “boys’ sports,” just sports that anyone can play)
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Post pictures depicting positive representations of gender diverse individuals or cultures (e.g., two-spirit people)
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When you do have to reference gender, avoid reinforcing idea that everyone fits into two strict gender identities and make students aware that you mean to include people of all genders
Do we unintentionally make assumptions about students or normalize heteronormativity?
Focus more on addressing the behaviour of students and focus less on bodies and binaries.
Here’s how…
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Make room for students to be themselves and use phrases like, “that may be true for some people, but not for all people.” Avoid generalizing or using the term “normal” or “natural” to describe references to sexual orientation
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Avoid assumptions about ‘boys liking girls’, etc.
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Normalize non-hetero relationships through books or plays, or in discussions on current events or pop culture and be prepared to challenge homophobic reactions and take up opportunities for learning and growth
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Teach sexual health education that reflects the needs and experiences of students of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and sexes (i.e., female, male, intersex)
Does your communication with and discussions about family reflect diversity and inclusion?
Challenge assumptions, use neutral terms and think of family-based activities that include all children.
Here’s how...
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Refer to a student’s “family” and “parents” instead of “mom and dad” to include students who may have single, step or 2SLGBTQ+ parents, or alternate guardians
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Be sensitive to occasions like mother’s day and father’s day or projects that assume specific family dynamics
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Ensure your classroom communications to parents and caregivers are inclusive of all kinds of different family structures
Do you foster a culture of respect in your classroom?
Develop a plan to prevent and address harassment and bullying related to sexual or gender diversity.
Here’s how...
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Establish classroom norms for behaviour (e.g., anti-2SLGBTQ+ slurs, joke punchlines)
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Provide guidance to students on how address harmful situations (e.g., understanding that if it's not comfortable or safe to intervene in a harmful situation, to let an adult know)
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Engage students in scenarios where they consider bullying behaviour and how to respond
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Address student comments such as “that’s so gay,” even if they don’t mean harm. Consider these responses: “Gay people and their loved ones are all around you. Most of them, as well as others, are offended every time they hear this.” Or encourage them to try other words to say what they mean, such as, “that’s so weird” or“that’s so boring”
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Do not tolerate harassment or bullying in your space at all and if it happens, follow your school/school board’s bullying policies and guidelines
How is diversity reflected in your lessons, classroom, and school?
Think of creative ways to celebrate the beauty in diversity.
Here’s how...
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Make sure the posters and visual representations on classroom walls reflect diverse sexual orientations and gender identities
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Display 2SLGBTQ+ safer space sticker or flag in your classroom – or wear a button - if you feel confident in your ability to respond to questions, address hurtful language, harassment or bullying, and are committed to creating a safer space through the tips above
Do you feel comfortable to respond to and support a student who comes out to you?
Getting prepared for this possibility can make you feel more confident in the moment.
Here’s how...
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Listen and be attentive
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Give them time and space
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Affirm their value and offer gratitude you might feel
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Learn on your own, and clarify where needed in order to provide support (if and whenit'sappropriate to ask)
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Ask what they need and let them set the pace
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Seek consent to share this conversation and what they need with others
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Consult resources like Egale Canada’s What to do When a 2SLGBTQI Young Person Comes Out to You or Preparing Students for the Transition of a Trans or Gender Diverse Peer
Does your school culture promote the use of inclusive, gender-neutral language?
Use inclusive language, chosen names, and correct pronouns to make everyone in your school community feel valued and seen.
Here’s how...
- Default to gender-neutral language
- When addressing a group, use terms like students, folks, athletes instead of ladies/gentlemen, girls/boys
- If you don’t know what someone’s pronouns are, default to using the person’s name or they/them pronouns when referring to them
- When referring to relationships and family structures, use neutral terms like partner, spouse, sibling instead of boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, sister/brother
- Standardize respect for correct names and pronouns across students and school staff (refer to Egale Canada’s Pronoun usage guide)
- Make space for students and staff to identify their chosen name and pronouns in school systems (e.g., registration forms, attendance lists, school email addresses)
- Allow for a student’s chosen name/pronoun information to be updated within school systems without legal documentation or parental consent
- Ensure the student is leading the decision/disclosure process
Are two-spirit, trans, and nonbinary students and staff able to access and safely use school spaces (e.g., washrooms, change rooms)?
Safer physical spaces can be:
1) Private (single stall) with all-gender signage
2) Shared (binary) with signage that explicitly invites folks to use the space they feel most comfortable with.
Create safer spaces for students to use the washroom and to change their clothes for physical education or extra-curriculars, without judgement and harassment.
Here’s how...
- If there’s the opportunity to renovate/build new spaces (e.g., when a new school is being built), advocate for private, all-gender washroom and change spaces to be integrated into the design
- If there’s no opportunity to renovate/build new spaces:
- Post signage on shared, binary spaces (e.g., traditional boys/girls washrooms) that invites folks to use the space they feel most comfortable with. Do not make assumptions about which space would be most comfortable; allow the individual to decide for themselves
- Post all-gender signage on private (single stall) spaces (Note: ensure availability of at least one private, single stall washroom in the school)
- Make students aware of these spaces and their right to access them (and avoid barriers to access such as asking the office for a key each use)
- Educate the school community about the importance of having safer physical spaces
- Consider creating an FAQ document to share with the school community
- Integrate inclusive washrooms into school policies and guidelines
- As staff, monitor and ensure the safety of washroom and change room spaces
Does your school have a Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) or other 2SLGBTQ+ student organization/club?
Create or maintain this important venue for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies to form connections and friendships, and experience safety at school.
Here’s how...
If students have come forward with an interest in establishing a GSA:
- Support student leaders with what they need to get a GSA started (e.g., approval to form, space to meet regularly, ability to promote the group, access to an educator advisor, funding, tools to lead the group)
- Share resources to guide student leaders, e.g.
- Starting a GSA at your school
- 10 steps for starting a GSA
- Tools for student groups: developing accountable and healthy group norms
- Where possible, ensure student voices are setting the priorities and direction
If students have not come forward, school administrators can ask educators to offer to work with students to start a GSA.
Does your school or school board have explicit anti-discriminatory policies and guidelines that protect 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff?
Create policies and guidelines that help foster consistent safer practices and processes.
Here’s how...
Implement/modify (or advocate for the implementation of) the following policies and guidelines:
- Dress code and uniforms
- Modify dress code to be gender-neutral (including uniforms)
- Allow students to wear the clothes/uniform they’re most comfortable with
- Make rules about garments themselves, regardless of the gender of the student wearing the garment
- Transition plan for students and staff
- Create a policy or guideline to support students or staff who are transitioning to affirm their gender identity (e.g., changes to name and/or pronouns, transition related hormones, surgeries) to facilitate any needed changes in the school environment
- Use the policy or guideline to develop an individualized student/staff-led transition plan (including if and what they want to communicate, where, to whom)
- Ask the student/staff member where they feel the most vulnerable and what you can do to make them feel safe and supported
- Draw on resources like Rainbow Health Ontario’s Schools in transition: A guide for supporting transgender students in k-12 schools to inform your practice
- Bullying/harassment
- Specifically prohibit and address bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity (as per the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accepting Schools Act)
- Suicide prevention/intervention
- Consider the 2SLGBTQ+ population in suicide prevention/intervention policies and guidelines, because they are at elevated risk of suicide
- Safer physical spaces (if applicable)
- Integrate safer physical spaces (e.g., washrooms, change rooms) into policies and guidelines
Does your school ensure equal access to school facilities, sports teams, student organizations, and all other extracurricular activities?
Reflect on the current social culture of school activities and take opportunities to make them more inclusive.
Here’s how...
- Consider how current school practices may reinforce the gender binary (e.g., prom king and queen, Battle of the Sexes activities) and look for ways to make them more inclusive
- Select school plays with fewer gender-defined roles and/or implement flexible casting on gendered roles
- Reduce barriers to participating in sports teams using Egale Canada’s 2SLGBTQI Sports Inclusion: Playbook to breaking down barriers
- Allow trans and nonbinary students to play on the sports team of their choice (Note: OFSAA supports student-athlete participation on a team of their lived gender)
- Avoid categorizing students by gender (e.g. girls vs. boys in gym class, girls vs. boys lineups)
Do your school staff receive regular training on how to create a safe and affirming learning environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students?
Provide meaningful learning opportunities for school staff to support the mental health of 2SLGBTQ+ students.
Here’s how...
- Provide educators with regular training on 2SLGBTQ+ competencies and how to create a safe and affirming learning environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students
- Ensure existing trainings (e.g., suicide prevention/intervention, anti-bullying) are linked to the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ students
- Reflect on your own values, beliefs, and biases using Cultural Humility Self-Reflection Tool for School Staff
- Learn about and share online/local resources
Does your school celebrate the presence and accomplishments of the 2SLGBTQ+ community?
Show your school’s pride and support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Here’s how...
- Develop campaigns and host events to foster education, community, and celebration of gender and sexual diversity
- This would be a good opportunity to partner with your school’s GSA (if applicable)
- Mark and/or celebrate important moments like Pride month
- Refer to 2SLGBTQI Dates of Significance
Does your school have visible indicators of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion that welcome and affirm students, staff, and families?
Create opportunities for your school community to see themselves reflected in the space.
Here’s how...
Once your school has created inclusive policies and guidelines, practices, and spaces, encourage visual cues of allyship across the school (e.g., safe space stickers, rainbow flags, pronoun pins)Does your school have a feedback process in place for 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, and families?
Ask your school community for feedback to ensure changes made are having a positive impact.
Here’s how...
- Evaluate whether your school environment is a welcoming space by asking 2SLGBTQ+ students, student organizations, staff, families, and local organizations to provide feedback
- Complete an equity walk with key members of the school community
- Invite advocates from organizations that support 2SLGBTQ+ youth to tour the school
- Provide students, staff, and families the opportunity to give anonymous feedback
- Invite a local GSA or other 2SLGBTQ+ student organization to play an active role in creating a more inclusive school environment
If you have any comments or suggested edits to the checklist, please email community.health@healthunit.ca
Key Resources
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Trevor Project(English only)
Resources for Catholic Educators
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