Protecting Trans Students, Educators, and Families

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There is an escalating assault on transgender people in the United States. Legislation denying gender-affirming healthcare and drag performance, trans lawmakers being silenced on this topic, and curricula and libraries being scrubbed of content about gender identity and queer people are all actions that continue to harm the trans community. These threats and actions have a real impact on trans people, particularly trans youth. 

Rates of drug use, drop-outs and self-harm are all much higher for teens who identify as queer or nonbinary. And violence against trans people also happens at much higher rates than the general population. According to a 2021 study conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute, transgender people (ages 16+) are four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime. All of these factors contribute to a climate that is hostile and threatening to trans people and trans youth in particular.

What is important is how we respond to this hostile climate and how we support all of our students and teachers. All people are entitled to their human rights, including the right to be free from all forms of discrimination, and we must make sure that these rights are upheld and protected. 

Responses might include: class discussions about recent events targeting the LGBTQIA+ community, teaching LGBTQIA+ history, reviewing school or district policies about protecting all students, and teaching about censorship and book bans.

Does your curriculum include transgender people? Do you know your state’s policies on teaching about LGBTQIA+ history and protecting transgender students? Do you know your school or district’s policy? Woven Teaching has pulled together a collection of organizations and resources to help educators support transgender students, families, and teachers.

Organizations

Resources

Anti-Defamation League (ADL)

New York Collective of Radical Teachers and NYQueer 

Human Rights Campaign