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Plus resources for transgender students and their families

As a transgender staff member, one of the most frequent questions I receive is about mentors for trans youth. There is not a ‘trans-specific’ mentorship program in Nova Scotia that I know of. If you or your organization would like to help organize such a program, please email me at includegender@gmail.com with your contact information. Below are a few suggestions if you know a trans youth who is looking for a mentor.

The staff at the Youth Project are able to travel and meet with trans youth to provide counseling. You can request to meet with staff there who identify as transgender just to chat. To arrange this, contact the support services coordinator at the Youth Project.

Nova Scotians have shared their stories online. Watching this together with the youth you are thinking of may go a long way. See the video series HERE.

Many schools have a GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) which is a student-led club for LGBTQ2S youth and student allies. Are you a staff member who is thinking about starting a GSA? Check out the Youth Project’s GSA Manual available on their website. If you are seeking additional guidance or support to start up a GSA, give the Youth Project a call at (902) 429-5429.

Why “teach gender”?

Lessons about gender happen every day in most schools. Every time a child hears, “good morning boys and girls, today our morning message…” sight words are not the only part of the lesson they will remember.

What do these lessons about gender contain? What do we want them to contain? How are lessons about gender received by different students? What lessons are not taught? Let’s get curious about the ways that gender is taught in the classroom, and get ready to open our minds to creative ways to think about gender.