The Educator's Guide to LGBT+ Inclusion. Kryss Shane
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A transgender person is not “more trans” or “less trans” based on how far through a transition process the person is. Some people choose never to take hormones and never to have surgery, others only choose to utilize some of the treatment options, and others choose to alter their physical appearance without utilizing any hormonal or surgical options. This is a personal choice based on their own feelings about their bodies and based on financial options available.
Some people believe that they can identify a transgender person simply by looking at them. While this might have been largely true in past generations because there was no opportunity to utilize hormones and surgical options, the idea that this is an obvious identity is incredibly outdated, and the imagery that people use is incredibly biased. There are many people who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary whose appearance may give no indication of their gender identity. It is not their obligation to provide this information to you. You may have access to this information if the school has the child listed under one name and gender but the child presents and identifies differently. In these cases, make sure to communicate with your supervisor in order to make sure that the name and pronouns within the classroom for the student are what they have asked to be called. You may also wish to speak with your supervisor about changing the name and pronoun on the attendance sheets in order to ensure that substitute teachers or other guests in the classroom do not misgender the student. Remember that a transgender person is just like any other person; their bodies and their choices with their bodies are none of your business unless you are a medical professional and the question you are asking is medically necessary. While you may have questions, it is not the individual’s job to teach you, nor is it appropriate for you to expect such. If, however, you are unsure, ask the student privately and follow their lead. Never ask a person of any age about this information or anything related to their identity in front of others. It is already very difficult for transgender people of all ages to avoid bullying or violence, and putting the spotlight on their identity in front of others may make the situation much harder for them.
Some associate the idea of a transgender person with being a drag queen. They’re very, very different. Drag queens and drag kings are biological males and females respectively who present as members of the other sex specifically to perform or entertain. The performance may include singing, lip-synching, or dancing. Drag performers may or may not identify as transgender. Many drag queens and kings identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This is very different from a transgender person, whose heart and mind are of a gender that is different than their genitalia and who is living as themselves. Transgender people do not do this for the entertainment or amusement of others; it is simply who the person is. As an example, this is the difference between the way you may choose to dress up for Halloween and your identity every day; one is meant to be fun and entertaining, and the other simply is who you are.
While it used to be very rare for anybody to openly identify as LGBT+, the past decade has significantly changed this. Members of boy bands including members of New Kids on the Block and *NSYNC have come out as gay. Sonny and Cher’s son has come out as a transgender man, living openly, and with the support of his parents. Top musicians have also identified themselves as bisexual, or lesbian, taking their partners with them to very public events. This can be incredibly helpful and affirming for those in the LGBT+ community; however, the social change of people feeling more able to be out and live openly does not mean that bullying does not happen. In order to prevent bullying in the school and in general, allies are necessary.
Helpful hints
It is important to hear and understand terminology from the perspective of those you are engaging in conversation with. For young people, the terminology presented here often provokes romantic notions and ideas of identity and self-discovery, rather than the political or sexual context these words may evoke for older audiences. Using a person’s chosen term without judgment can make all the difference in the world. This means being open at all times, regardless of whether you understand why a child in your classroom has chosen to identify by a different name, gender, or a pronoun from those they have previously used in your classroom or in your school. The best course of action is to thank them for letting you know and then to use that name and pronoun when calling on them in class. If other students question this, not every moment needs to be a reason to stop the class for a long lecture about these topics. It may simply be that you can say that this is the name this student is using and then continue with your class. If you accept this information from the student and behave as if it is no big deal, it is much more likely that the other students in the class will behave as if it is no big deal as well. However, be mindful of what may be being whispered when you are at the front of the class or things that might be said in the hallway before or after class. You can always check in with a student before or after class to ask if they are feeling safe and supported or to remind them that your classroom is a place where they will not be judged or mistreated.
Lesbians
It should not be assumed that lesbians have never been sexually active with men; we cannot assume when talking with students at middle school or high school that they have not had sexual encounters with males. Making this assumption can leave them unsafe due to lack of information given, because there is an assumption that information is not useful. The risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and depression may be higher in lesbians and bisexual individuals, especially those who are not open about their sexual orientation, who are not in satisfying and safe relationships, and/or who lack social support. Smoking and obesity rates are also higher in lesbians and bisexual women because smoking and eating are inexpensive ways in which some cope, and this population may be more likely to need coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of living in a world that is often homophobic and biphobic.
In addition, many lesbian and bisexual women are victims of hate crimes, and they often fear for their safety. Intimate partner violence may also occur between women in same-sex relationships at a rate that is similar to heterosexual relationships. Lesbian women can also be raped, physically assaulted, or stalked by a female partner. It may be difficult for students to be open about this, especially if they do not feel supported at home and within the school. They may struggle with addressing these concerns and their relationships out of fear that they will not be believed, or that people will assume that women cannot be as violent toward each other as men have been known to be violent in interactions with women. If a student comes to you with concerns about relationship safety, it is necessary that you follow the same protocol the school has for opposite-sex relationships and for any report of violence whatsoever.
Gay and MSM
This categorizes male-identified people who have sexual encounters and/or relationship with other male-identified people. At the present time, some see “gay” as an identity that deals with a specific type of personality or type of behaviors. In those cases, some do not identify as “gay” but rather as “MSM”—men who have sex with men. (This may be how a male-identified student identifies his sexuality, even if his age and/or appearance do not yet make him a “man” by definition.) Regardless of a person’s chosen label, there is still an increased risk for this population of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as psychological and behavioral disorders related to their experiences and whether or not they are accepted at home. It may be easy to find statistics that indicate that gay men or men who have sex with men are contracting more STIs than other groups; however, this research is often heavily biased either in the way the study was written to bolster pre-existing misperceptions or by misinterpreting the results to further a person or group’s agenda, regardless of the breadth of research that indicates otherwise.
This may be because the people funding the study have personal or religious feelings about homosexuality. It may be because a drug company is biased in their studies in an attempt to indicate a need for a drug they are trying to sell. It may also be that the place in which these studies occur is heavily biased toward or against one type or group of people. For example, doing a study while inside a nightclub will likely only capture the responses of people who go to nightclubs; it will not also include people who do not go to nightclubs, which may be a significantly different experience.