Supporting your LGBTIQ+ students

Course description

It is concerning that nowadays many LGBTIQ+ students at schools and colleges experience bullying. Educators usually struggle to take proper action even if they have the best intentions. They lack the training to address these issues in an appropriate way. This may end up in queer students having low academic performance, stress, and even mental health issues. However, there are many strategies that teachers and schools can do to support LGBTIQ+ kids to solve these issues.

In this course, you will explore how to create a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTIQ+ students. You will learn about developing positive relationships with them, promoting their healthy relationships by using inclusive language, like asking them their chosen pronouns and using symbols that show it is a safe space. You will also reflect on ways to challenge homophobia and transphobia in the classroom. You will be encouraged to connect with the wider LGBTIQ+ community and associations to include them in the school and college community.

By the end of the course, you will be able to define and apply strategies to create a safer environment for your LGBTIQ+ students. The goal is to build tolerance in all of your students, by modeling and promoting respect, trust, and care for all equally.  You will be an ally for the LGBTIQ+ community at your school and will model this positive role for other educators, students, and staff alike.

Session details

Session 1. The letters in LGBTIQ+

Understanding what it means to be a member of the LGBTIQ+ community is essential for you to support your queer students. During this session, you will learn about the meaning of the acronym LGBTIQ+, we will discuss the essential differences between the concepts of Sex, Gender and Sexuality, intersex variations, and gender diversity.

Session 2. Being a queer student

You will discuss the challenges queer students face and the consequences that they can face because of them. We will explore recommendations to improve the well-being of LGBTIQ+ young people.

Session 3. Teachers need to be LGBTIQ+ allies

You can do a lot to help your queer students. You will discuss inclusive language you can use, how to articulate positive relationships and the necessity to be aware of local and national support groups and professionals to refer them if necessary. You will reflect on what protocol you can follow if you witness homophobic or transphobic behaviour at school or college.

Session 4. Trans youth and young adults

Transgender students can experience some difficult challenges at school and college, especially if they decide to transition at that stage. You will discover what it means to be transgender, an umbrella term that covers several different gender identifications. You will also discuss and reflect on common misconceptions and prejudices against transgender people as well as ways to help them affirm their gender.

Session 5. Connect with your local LGBTIQ+ Community

Fostering collaboration networks can be one of the most efficient ways to support queer students. You will explore examples on how to foster staff collaboration and policies that can be implemented to establish clear guidelines on how to support LGBTIQ+ students. We will also talk about the benefits of connecting with local LGBTIQ+ associations and rainbow families to provide a long-term support network for queer students.