Every student in Canada has the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment where they (and their families) are reflected. Educators and schools play a vital role in the wellbeing and mental health of youth.
Explore more resources below:
Understanding the Basics
From Transforming Families – Understanding gender & gender diversity
From APA – Understanding transgender people, gender identity, and gender expression
From Egale Canada – Affirming Adults: A Guide to Supporting Gender Diverse Children and Youth
From Strong Family Alliance – Myths that Stigmatize Transgender People
From Egale – Egale Explains: Transition
From Strong Family Alliance – Understanding Transition
From Trans Care BC – Indigenous gender identities
From ArQuives – Become 2SLGBTQIA+ Literate: Everyday Strategies for Educators
Building Supportive Classrooms
From Egale – The Every Teacher Project on LGBTQ-Inclusive Education in Canada’s K-12 Schools
From Egale – Four Step Guides to Empowerment for (1) 2SLGBTQI students, (2) parents/guardians, and (3) educators
From Egale – Affirming and Inclusive Language
From Gender Spectrum – Framework for Gender Inclusive Schools
From Gender Spectrum – 12 Easy Steps on the Way to Gender Inclusiveness
From Advocates for Youth – Trans-Affirming Schools Project Guide
From Canadian Teachers’ Federation – Affirming Gender Diversity: A Discussion Booklet for the Classroom
From RISE – Classroom Management
From APA – A Guide for Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Students
Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Students
From UWO – Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Ontario Schools: Educator’s Response
From Learning for Justice – Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Students
From GLSEN – Supporting LGBTQ+ Students of Colour
From HRC – Schools in Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools
From HRC – Advocating for LGBTQ Students with Disabilities
From Welcoming Schools – Secondary LGBTQ and Gender Inclusive Schools Checklist
From Welcoming Schools – Gender Support Checklist for Transgender and Non-Binary Students
From Egale – Preparing Students for the Transition of a Trans or Gender Diverse Peer
From Gender Spectrum – Gender Support Plan
From Parents – Why We Need to Stop Outing LGBTQIA Students
From Midwest & Plains EAC – Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in Rural Schools
From SAFER – How can I maintain professional boundaries while supporting queer and trans students?
Tools for Addressing Identity-Based Harm, Bullying, and Harassment
From SAFER: How can I be a good bystander when 2SLGBTQ+ students are targeted?
From Egale – What Constitutes Transphobic Bullying and Harassment
From Egale – How Do We Talk About It? Combatting Anti-2SLGBTQI Hate
From Egale – Difficult Conversation Tip Sheet for Educators
From Egale – Table Talk Guide: Addressing Anti-2SLGBTQI Comments
From Welcoming Schools – What Do You Say to ‘That’s So Gay’ & Other Anti-LGBTQ+ Comments?
From Welcoming Schools – Be Prepared for Questions and Put-Downs about Gender
From Learning for Justice – Speak Up At School: How to Respond to Everyday Prejudice, Bias, and Stereotypes
From Egale – Anti-2SLGBTQI Cyberbullying: A Resource for Educators
Tools for Addressing Polarization in the Classroom
From Facing History – Fostering Civil Discourse: Difficult Classroom Conversations in a Diverse Democracy
From Learning for Justice – Let’s Talk! Facilitating Critical Conversations with Students
From Greater Good Science Centre – Bridging Differences Playbook: Learn research-based strategies to promote positive dialogue and understanding
From Quebec Ministry of Education – Inclusion, Togetherness, and Prevention of Polarization in High Schools
From Learning A-Z – Teacher Discussion Guidelines
Classroom Resources
From Egale – Inclusion Poster Downloads
From Egale – 2SLGBTQI Days of Significance Calendar
From GLSEN – Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Classroom Resources
From Magination Press – Rainbow Collection (book recommendations)
From IGLA – World Maps: SOGIE Rights, Laws and Policies
From CCGSD – Our History Study Guide: A Collection of Stories from Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ History
From LGBTQ Youth Initiative – Send the Right Message Campaign
Curriculum & Lesson Plans
From GLSEN – Lesson Plans for Educators (K-12)
From Advocates for Youth – K-12 Sexuality Education Curriculum
From Welcoming Schools – Lesson Plans to Create Gender Expansive Classrooms and Support Transgender and Non-Binary Students
From Canadian Pride Historical Society – Lesson Plans
From Teaching Tolerance – Gender Doesn’t Limit You! A Research-Based Anti-Bullying Program for the Early Grades
From ArQuives – 2SLGBTQIA+ Stories: An adaptable mini-unit plan for English or History Classrooms
From School Mental Health Ontario – Health and Physical Education Curriculum: Mental Health Literacy Lesson Plans
From School Mental Health Ontario – Decision Support Tool for Classroom Teachers: Checklist for Educators for the Planning of Student Mental Health-Related Activities
From School Mental Health Ontario – Ways to Help Students in Response to World Events
From Woven Teaching – Human Rights are for Everyone: A Guide for Teaching Positive Change
From Egale – Navigating Sex Ed Concerns: Resources for Educators
From ACCM – Teacher’s Sex Ed Toolkit
From Gender Spectrum – Principles of Gender-Inclusive Puberty and Health Education
Early Childhood Education
From Gender Justice in Early Childhood – Gender Justice in ECE Audit Tool
From Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Centre – Healthy Gender Development & Young Children
Faith-Based Resources
From Egale – Faith and 2SLGBTQI Youth
From Egale – Building Bridges: 2SLGBTQI & Affirming Faith Workbooks (includes specific faith workbooks: Indigenous, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism)
From HRC – Faith Positions
From HRC – A Christian Conversation Guide: Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces for People Who Are LGBT
From Medium – How to be culturally competent when supporting LGBTQ+ Muslims
From Muslims for Progressive Values – Sexual Diversity in Islam
From the Anglican Church of Canada – Pastoral Liturgies for Journeys of Gender Affirmation and Transition – Anglican Church of Canada
From National LGBTQ Task Force – Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry
Sports & Athletics
From Egale – 2SLGBTQI Sports Inclusion: Playbook to breaking down barriers
From Athlete Ally – Beyond the Checklist: Integrating LGBTQI+ Inclusivity Into Your Team and Department Culture
From WIAA – Gender Diverse Youth Sport Inclusivity Toolkit
From UClan Publishing – Non-Binary Inclusion in Sport: Rising to the Challenge
From Egale – Egale Explains: Trans Women in Sport
Supporting Caregivers & Families
From the Family Acceptance Project – Q&A For Helping Educators & School Providers to Provide Guidance & Support for Parents & Caregivers of LGBTQ Students
From EuroClio – Dealing with Parents when teaching sensitive and controversial issues
From SAFER – Tipsheets for Teachers
- Teaching gender and sexual diversity violates my parental rights to educate my child according to my beliefs
- Teaching about gender and sexual diversity is grooming students to be queer or trans
- 2SLGBTQIA+ issues are for white Canadians
- Does teaching sexual and gender diversity violate my religious freedoms?
From School Mental Health Ontario – When Parents and Caregivers are Concerned About Their Child’s Mental Health
From School Mental Health Ontario – Supporting Conversations with Parents/Caregivers about Mental Health and Well-being
From APA – How Educators Can Support Families With Gender Diverse And Sexual Minority Youth
From GSA Network – Supporting LGBTQ Youth Through Family Engagement
From Welcoming Schools – Family Education and Community Building
School Administration
GEGI – online hub of 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy tools for all Ontario schools
From Welcoming Schools – Checklist for a Welcoming and Inclusive School
From Welcoming Schools – Checklist for Embracing All Families
From Learning for Justice – Responding to Hate and Bias at School
From APA – Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Schools – Key Recommendations for School Admin
From Positive Space Network – 2SLGBTQ+ Rights at School Guide (Ontario)
From YouthRex – Trans Youth and the Right to Access Public Washrooms
From Egale – Egale Explains: Pride Flag Bans
From Lawyers Against Transphobia – Expelling Transphobia: A handbook of strategies to address transphobic attacks in the B.C. school system
From GLSEN – Tools for Librarians