Classrooms need to be safe and welcoming spaces for all children, including children and teens who identify as LGBTQ+. And teachers need to have all the tools to nurture and support all learners and build a classroom community that is inclusive and inviting. To that end, we have pulled together resources to educate ourselves, our classrooms, and our school communities to better support our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues.

This post has been updated as of June 27, 2024.

LGBTQ+ History

• The Facing History & Ourselves website offers "ideas and guidance on how to incorporate LGBTQ+ voices and history into your teaching.”
• LGBTQ History.org has created a LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History that spans from Colonial Life and Founding of the Nation (1607-1770) to The 21st Century Transformation (2000-Present). The website also offers lesson plans, and video and multimedia resources.

Inclusion Resources

• The ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ via The New York Times
• The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools Organization resources
• Glossary of terms that relate to the LGBTQ community via the Trevor Project
• The Coming Out Handbook via the Trevor Project
• The Annual National Mental Health Survey highlights the needs and struggles of LGBTQ+ students in the U.S. Via the Trevor Project.
• A Guide To Gender Identity Terms via National Public Radio
• EDTalks: Creating Gender Inclusive Schools by Jason Bucklin

Applying Your Learning

If you are looking for ways to make your classroom more safe and inclusive for LGBTQ students, these resources may be helpful. 

• Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth via National Education Association. Also included is a link to their resource toolkit.
• Heinemann’s Writing as Healing podcast series was joined by Willie Carver Edward Taylor Jr. to talk about writing as a way to unravel your personal truth and as a mechanism to clear your heart and head.
• U.S. Department of Education provides a page on Supporting Transgender Youth in School 
• Gender-Diverse & Transgender Children Definitions + Additional Information & Resources via The American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children Organization
• GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) has a number of resources and toolkits
• Incorporation of LGBTQ+ Studies in K-12 Education via the American Federation of Teachers

Extending Your Learning

As teachers, caregivers, and community members it’s important to seek out opportunities for professional development and self-work. 

• Bystander Intervention to Stop LGBTQ+ Harassment and De-escalation Training Workshop via Right to Be
• LGBTQ Inclusive School: Action Planning via GLSEN
• LGBTQ+ Student Experiences at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). "Dig into the experiences of LGBTQ+ students, and learn how to support inclusive practices at HBCUs," via Best Colleges. 
• Report on Being an LGBTQ+ Ally via The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
• A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools guide via The Human Rights Campaign Foundation

This post was originally published on June 8, 2022. Check back for updates and share with fellow educators.