"While Canadian society is growing more diverse and inclusive, there is still resistance when it comes to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2) youth in schools. Although recent research indicates that the vast majority of Canadian teachers (85%) now support LGBTQ2-inclusive education, many report not yet having the knowledge or training to feel confident in creating safer and more inclusive schools for LGBTQ2 youth.

Here are four key factors that can make a positive difference for LGBTQ2 students in K-12 schools"

"The Ministry of Education is working to help ensure all children and youth in Saskatchewan know how to access  Kids Help Phone (KHP) for support. KHP’s e-mental health services and resources are free to access, 24/7, for people across Canada including kids, teens and adults. KHP supports students with any issue on their mind, big or small. Attached are  one-page posters so that all youth in Saskatchewan know that KHP is there for them whenever their feelings need a place to go and when they need someone to call or text. The posters have been designed to target all youth, with some of the posters focused on targeting specific youth (e.g., Indigenous youth). The posters also feature QR codes for quick access to KHP’s website."

LGBTQ2+ Literary Resources - Select the appropriate grade level from the table of contents to see a list of suggest resources shared by OutSaskatoon and fYrefly.

"Learning for Justice seeks to uphold the mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center: to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people."

Resources for youth and teachers.
LGTB2S

Curriculum Connections to: Language Arts, Civics/Citizenship, Diversity/Pluralism, Family Studies

Every single person on this planet will experience gender and sexuality in a variety of ways. This playlist asks its viewers to consider the multitude of stories experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities in order to create deeper, more empathetic understandings of what it means to be 2SLGBTQIA+ and additionally, to open up conversations about what it means for anyone to experience gender and sexuality.

Educators in particular can use this playlist with high-school-aged students to challenge stereotypical and prejudiced narratives about 2SLGBTQIA+ people, while adding complexity to the experiences of folks who identify as being part of this community. As students’ understanding and experiences of gender and sexuality continue to evolve, films like these can be important tools for them to see themselves or loved ones represented, to develop their capacity to discuss these issues, and to deepen their empathy for those whose experiences might be different from their own.

Children pick up ideas about gender beginning in their infancy; they constantly observe the variety of families and forms of expression around them, and they might be curious about the feelings they have for others. The films on this playlist will help to open up conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation in age-appropriate ways for primary-school children

Every single person on this planet will experience gender and sexuality in a variety of ways. This playlist asks its viewers to consider the multitude of stories experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities in order to create deeper, more empathetic understandings of what it means to be 2SLGBTQIA+ and additionally, to open up conversations about what it means for anyone to experience gender and sexuality.

In this lesson, students will investigate the work and legacies of Black and Latinx pioneers often ignored in larger discussions about LGBTQ+ history, by collaborating with other students in analyzing primary source documents. Students will also explore the ways city governments and activists are working to combat the erasure of Black and Latinx trans women and the broader whitewashing of the Gay Liberation Movement.

This article outlines strategies that you can use to support LGBTQ+ Students in your school and community.

Growing up, Evie Ruddy didn’t quite feel like a girl, or a boy, and resisted gendered expectations. Only recently, with the growing awareness of non-binary identities, did Evie move toward a more androgynous gender performance and begin using they/them pronouns. Un/tied Shoes tells the story of how gender conventions have impacted Evie’s life, with footwear as markers along the way.

Un/tied is presented as an online shoe company, but visitors expecting to browse the latest styles will instead find a first-person account of self-actualization and contesting categorization. Thanks to gendered fashion industry conventions, buying shoes and clothes that reflect their identity has been a lifelong challenge for Evie. Framing their story as an online shopping experience underscores the hardship many non-binary and transgender people face trying to reflect their gender identity in their outward appearance. It’s an everyday illustration of the deep-rooted mores and social codes that determine who can wear what, and in which circumstances.

With Evie as our guide, Un/tied invites us to step into a future with more options, fewer labels, and shoes that come in all sizes, for all people.

Unarchived examines “traditional” archives in British Columbia, those rooted in European colonial practices upheld by government, academic and other settler institutions. Records preserved in such repositories centre and privilege the stories of the dominant culture, perpetuating the re-telling of biased histories. This film challenges typical archival practice and encourages the viewer to question what is not being told, to make space for diverse voices and to build capacity for alternative archives.

Unarchived examines “traditional” archives in British Columbia, those rooted in European colonial practices upheld by government, academic and other settler institutions. Records preserved in such repositories centre and privilege the stories of the dominant culture, perpetuating the re-telling of biased histories. This film challenges typical archival practice and encourages the viewer to question what is not being told, to make space for diverse voices and to build capacity for alternative archives.