Trans / Gender YOUTH @ Safe Schools Coalition

Answers About Transgender Issues - An excellent three part series published in The New York Times that has Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth answering questions. Dr. Erickson-Schroth is working on “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves,” a resource guide for transgender and other gender-variant people. Part 1 - April 21, 2010. Part 2 - April 22, 2010. Part 3 - April 23, 2010.

Bending the Mold: An Action Kit for Transgender Youth - from Lambda and NYAC. "Bending the Mold," offers suggestions for making schools safer, helps teens address making bathrooms and locker rooms more accessible and identifies ways to raise the level of discussion about transgender issues in school. The kit includes specific action steps, such as leading a community discussion about transgender issues, drafting a petition to make transgender-friendly policy changes in school and advocating for transgender issues with elected officials and school administrators.

Beyond the Binary: A Tool Kit for Gender Identity Activism in Schools (pdf format) - from the Gay-Straight Alliance Network/Tides Center, Transgender Law Center and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. This nuts-and-bolts manual will help students and allies fight for gender justice. The manual features compelling personal accounts of gender identity and its complexity at home and in school. Student activists will find legal advice, community resources, and organizing strategies such as tips for organizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The manual will help students, teachers, and advocates to create safer school environments where gender equity is realized and affirmed. Beyond the Binary includes facts based on California law and, therefore, parts of it may not apply to your school if you live outside California. Other parts - real students' stories, staff training activities, suggestions for how to make change at your school - are applicable anywhere.

Camp Aranu'tiq - a weeklong, tuition-free, overnight summer camp for transgender and gender-variant youth ages 8 through 15. Camp is located in Southern New England, a 2-hour drive from both New York & Boston. Activities include arts & crafts, dance, drama, swimming, music, canoeing, creative writing, and land sports such as basketball, soccer, dodgeball, kickball, & beach volleyball. There will be a few professional therapists at camp for campers who may want to talk, but the main focus of the week is on having fun. Camp Aranu'tiq is a federally recognized, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. It was born out of the idea that transgender and gender-variant youth needed a safe place to relate to others like them, away from home, in a beautiful rural setting where they can concentrate on what every camper loves: having fun. Contact: Nick M. Teich, Founder & President; Mailing address: Camp Aranu'tiq, P.O. Box 620141, Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462; Phone: (617) 467-5830; Contact form.

Coming Out as Transgender (pdf format) - This guide was designed to help trans people and their loved ones through that process in realistic and practical terms. It acknowledges that the experience of coming out covers the full spectrum of human emotion — from paralyzing fear to unbounded euphoria. The Human Rights Campaign and its Coming Out Project and the National Center for Transgender Equality hope this guide helps you meet the challenges and opportunities that living authentically can offer to each of us.

Coming out Trans to Your Parents and Family (pdf format) - This two page tri-fold handout outlines things you need to consider when you plan to come out to your parents and family. It is a guide to making the coming out process as comfortable as possible.

The Gender Booklet: free, 6-page, colorful, downloadable resource – print your own set! Small enough to fit in your back pocket. A group of folks in Houston, TX created it. They say, “We offer the GENDER book as a free pdf download in the hopes that you will enjoy it, read it, and DISTRIBUTE WIDELY. Print it out and give it to all your friends, post it to your facebook page, stick it on your forum badge, print out 1,000 copies for your convention or 35 for your classroom. Totally free.”

Gender Odyssey Teens: a monthly group for teens (12 to 19) who are transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, gender fluid or simply questioning. Group meets from 4:30p to 6:30p at Seattle Children’s Hospital and is put on by Gender Diversity. Please call 1-855-4 GENDER (toll free) or email info@GenderDiversity.org for more information.

Gender Odyssey Family Conference: national conference is held each summer in Seattle WA. This conference includes a full track of programming for gender nonconforming and transgender teens. Siblings and friends who are teens are welcome to attend. Parents and other adult family members have their own set of workshops within the conference. Great workshops, fun social events/parties, and excellent keynote speakers are all part of this 3-day event in August. For more information about dates, registration, scholarships, programming, and events, go to the website.

Gender Odyssey on Facebook… Families & Youth - Adult Conference (teens also welcome) - Gender Diversity

A guide for young trans people in the UK (pdf format) - also available on the Safe Schools Coalition website here - and see Trans Specific Titles for information on how to order print copies. Written by a group of young trans people aged between 15 and 22, living in the UK. from Sci:dentity, working in partnership with GALYIC, and Gendered intelligence. Published by National Health Services (UK) with funding from the Welcome trust. Includes: What is trans?, Recommended books and films, I’m trans... now what?, Personal stories, Toilet situations, Legally changing your name, The black and white of living in the grey area, What if you’re not trans? other identities, Trans respect, Sexual health/sex & relationships, Identifying positively as trans, and more.

SafeandRespectful.org/Teens/Gender "Take a few minutes to look into what it means to be a woman or man today. Learn how to respect yourself and others. Check out how media influences us and learn how your everyday actions really can make a difference." SafeandRespectful.org is from Domestic Violence Task Force and Victims’ Rights Task Force Prevention Subcommittee, based in Delaware, and while not exclusively LGBT focused, they do have some interesting pages about gender: Gender Roles & Stereotypes, What is Gender? How Does this Effect Me? Take Action - with links to resources.

TransActive Education & Advocacy - Supporting youth of all genders; TransActive is dedicated to working in support of transgender and gender non-conforming youth. We believe every child has the right to grow, think and live in the gender that is right for them. We work with families, schools, social service agencies, health care providers and others who serve the needs of these children and youth. committed to supporting families of gender independent children and youth, and the child’s right to freely express their true gender identity. TEA presents workshops, seminars and in-service training to professional & family organizations, educators, healthcare providers, administrators, social service agencies and community groups. TEA also works directly with children, youth and their families on breaking through stereotypes that may exist related to gender independent and transgender identity. Address: 1631 NE Broadway, Suite 355-T Portland OR 97232; Email: transeducate@comcast.net.

Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students: Your Rights At School - June 2012 (pdf format) - from National Center for Transgender Equality. Bullying, harassment, or discrimination against transgender or gender nonconforming students is covered by Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools. This resource outlines the rights trans and gender nonconforming students have in schools and how to file formal complaints.