New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource INFORMATION & RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS InformatIon & resources for educators Part 1: General Information for all Educators 1. Introduction 8 2. Did You Know...? 19 3. New Brunswick Documentation to Support LGBTQ Inclusive Education 23 4. What Can You Do to Help Make New Brunswick Schools Safer and More Inclusive Spaces? 31 Egale Canada http://www.MyGSA.ca/Educators 5. Gender Inclusive Schools 82 6. The Role of the Classroom Teacher 99 7. Classroom Strategies 101 8. An Educator’s Guide to Surviving Anti-LGBTQ Harassment 108 Adapted from the Safe Schools Coalition http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/guide_educator_ surviveharass2005.pdf 9. Suggested Learning Activities for Classes and Schools 112 From the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=15& menuid=5400&pageid=4716 10. How to Handle Harassment in the Hallways in 3 Minutes or Less! 114 From GLSEN/Colorado http://www.coloradosafeschools.org/harassment/ Harassment%20Staff.PDF 11. 10 Faith-Based Reasons to Support LGBTQ Inclusive Education 115 Adapted from document by Nadia Bello for T.E.A.C.H. http://www.MyGSA.ca/Educators 12. Debunking Myths 117 13. Resources 132 Part 2: Elementary Educators If LGBTQ terminology and concepts are new to you, visit the Terms and Concepts section of this resource. You may also review the GSA Guide section for additional ideas on 1. Did you know... 136 topics such as school climate, becoming an ally, and sample 2. Responding to Some Concerns About Being LGBTQ Inclusive 140 policies relating to LGBTQ matters. 3. Gender & Children: A Place to Begin 144 4. Affirming Gender in Elementary School: Social Transitioning 148 5. Be Prepared for Questions and Put-Downs on Gender 154 6. What Does Gay Mean? 158 7. Curriculum Links 161 8. Using LGBT-Inclusive Children’s Books & Looking at Gender Through Books 168 For even more ideas and supports, Before Reading a Book to Your Class get connected on MyGSA.ca! In the Information and About LGBT Inclusive Children’s Books Resources for Educators section of Egale’s national LGBTQ safer Choosing LGBTQ Inclusive Books Wisely schools and inclusive education website, you can find classroom LGBTQ Inclusive Children’s Books resources and school district policies. You can also share materials and brainstorm about inclusive curriculum and GSA activities 9. LGBTQ Resources and Lessons 186 in the discussion forums and collaborate with other teachers around the country to help make Canadian schools safer and more welcoming, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environments! Part 3: Middle and High School Educators 1. Did You Know... 280 2. Curriculum Links and Films 290 3. LGBTQ Inclusive Book List 301 4. About Policy 703 307 5. Lesson Plans 310 6. Human Rights 336 7. Additional Resources 351 Part 1 : General InformatIon for all educators Introduction Did You Know...? New Brunswick Documentation to Support LGBTQ Inclusive Education What Can You Do to Help Make New Brunswick Schools Safer and More Inclusive Spaces? What can I do to Create an Inclusive Classroom? An Educator’s Guide to Surviving Anti-LGBTQ Harassment Suggested Learning Activities for Classes and Schools How to Handle Harassment in the Hallways in 3 Minutes or Less! 10 Faith-Based Reasons to Support LGBTQ Inclusive Education Issues faced by GLBTTQ Families TDSB Guidelines for the Accommodation of Transgender and Gender Creative Students and Staff Q&A from Educators about LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resources IntroductIon Policy 322 – Inclusive Education states that: 5.1 Inclusive public education: Welcome to the educators section! • Is respectful of student and staff diversity in regards to their race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, All children, youth, and staff have the right to a safe and place of origin, age, disability, marital status, real or respectful school environment, and to an inclusive education. perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity, There are dedicated teachers in New Brunswick and across sex, social condition or political belief or activity. the country, who for many years have been working to ensure all students, including LGBTQ students and those with LGBTQ For the complete policy: http://www.gnb.ca/0000/pol/ families have felt safe, acknowledged and respected in their e/322A.pdf classrooms – often without support. Policy 703 now includes sexual orientation and gender identity as aspects of diversity. In this case we are talking specifically about LGBTQ The policy also requires respect for all listed aspects of diversity, inclusion. Here are a few examples of what LGBTQ inclusion can and outlines the need to support groups such as GSAs in schools. look like when it is infused into the subject matter being taught: This New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource provides educators, administrators, ESS teams, and parents/ • Seeing picture books with two moms or two dads or guardians with the specific tools needed to create LGBTQ with a child who is transgender or gender creative inclusive classrooms and schools. • Having teachers who challenge gender norms The momentum for this resource is the result of the • Reading a novel with an LGBTQ character research and advocacy of Egale Canada Human Rights Trust • Learning about same-sex attraction in health class (Egale) which released the First National Climate Study on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools • Hearing about LGBTQ people in history in 2011. Since 2009 when the phase 1 report was released, awareness has grown and Egale has been working to help In addition, here are a few examples of how the school provinces and territories across the country to make their environment can be LGBTQ inclusive: schools more LGBTQ inclusive. • Exposure to LGBTQ inclusive language To access the report, see: www.MyGSA.ca/YouthSpeakUp • Having a GSA that actively promotes safe spaces for Just like other forms of diversity, children and youth LGBTQ people who identify as LGBTQ or who have LGBTQ families must see • Access to LGBTQ role models themselves and their lives/realities reflected in the curriculum • Hearing teachers and other students address they are immersed in every day. The written curriculum and day homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and to day experiences within the school must reflect the diversity harassment of the entire student population. How a school chooses to intentionally do this has direct and indirect implications on the integration and well being of members of the school community who are LGBTQ. 8 Egale Canada Human Rights Trust New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource 9 LGBTQ inclusion helps students of all ages, as well as The New Brunswick Teachers Association (NBTA) also has staff and families who identify as LGBTQ, or who come from an Anti-Homophobia, Anti-Transphobia and Anti-Heterosexism LGBTQ families know that they and the people they love exist, policy. They advocate “for educational systems that are safe, and matter. Knowing that school policy supports LGBTQ welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all sexual orientations inclusion addresses homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and and gender identities/expressions.” It states that state that heteronormativity and cisnormativity further affirms that all “(6c) curriculum must contain positive images and accurate students have human rights and are worthy of dignity and information about history and culture, which reflects the respect. LGBTQ inclusive education must be immediate (i.e. accomplishments and contributions of LGBTQ people.” responding to bullying) and proactive (infusing LGBTQ issues The NBTA believes: and themes into the curriculum) in order to create and maintain safe and inclusive schools where students can excel. (3a) that the role of educators is critical in creating positive societal change to address the realities of BGLTT issues for The foundation of LGBTQ inclusive education students, parents and teachers; Heteronormativity: is policy. The New Brunswick Department of A cultural/societal Education and Early Childhood Development’s (3b) that an assumption of heterosexuality as being the only bias, often implicit, that as- Policy 703 is about positive learning and working sexual orientation throughout the school system denies sumes all people are straight environments and specifically includes sexual BGLTT students and same-gender parented families and so privileges hetero- orientation and gender identity as prohibited affirmation and accommodation; sexuality and ignores or grounds for discrimination and harassment. underrepresents same-gender (3c) that BGLTT students, staff and same-gender parented relationships. In December 2013, the Department of families have the right to: Education and Early Childhood Development • be free from harassment, discrimination and violence; Cisnormativity: A cultural/ updated Policy 703 – Positive Learning and societal bias, often implicit, Working Environment. This policy provides a • be treated fairly, equitably and with dignity; that assumes all people framework for the department, school districts • self identification and freedom of expression; are cisgender and so privi- and schools to create such environments by leges cisgender identities and • be included and to be represented and affirmed in a ignores or underrepresents “establishing a process for fostering positive positive and respectful manner; gender creativity. learning and working environments that are inclusive, safe, respect human rights,