5 Ways To Make Classrooms More Inclusive

Studies have shown LGBTQ students are more likely to be bullied at school, which can lead to missed classes and a higher risk of suicide. For those kids, a teacher who knows how to be inclusive — or how to “queer” the classroom, as some refer to it — can make a big difference. But many teachers aren’t sure how to do that. Over the years, gender and sexual identity have evolved, and not everyone has kept up.

“When they [teachers] realize, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’ you know how vulnerable it feels? It’s a big deal. They need support,” says Bethy Leonardi, co-founder of A Queer Endeavor, an initiative of University of Colorado Boulder School of Education. A Queer Endeavor helps teachers navigate questions like how to intervene when they see anti-LGBTQ bullying, how to be there for students who identify as gender-fluid and how to address kids who use gender-neutral pronouns like “they.”

The organization has put out a list of tips for making classrooms more LGBTQ-friendly. They include:

Let students identify themselves on the first day of class. Ask them to fill out index cards with their preferred name and pronouns, then be sure to update the class list and share that list when there’s a substitute teacher.

Avoid using gendered language to address students (“ladies and gentlemen,” “boys/girls”). Instead, use words like “scientists,” “readers,” “athletes,” “writers,” “artists,” “scholars,” etc.

Avoid grouping students by gender. Instead, use birthdays, ice cream preferences, pet preferences, etc.

If there are all-gender bathrooms, make sure students know where they are and that they are for everyone.

Make your ally status known by hanging a rainbow flag, sharing your own pronouns and/or supporting the school’s LGBTQ groups.

5 Ways To Make Classrooms More Inclusive

Illustration: Gracia Lam/NPR

🌊⚧💖passing tips for trans women💖⚧🌊

some trans guy got mad at me for my last post so im gonna do some passing tips 💖

hair and face

the first passing tip i have is for hair is please please dont dye your hair. if you dont do it properly it will die and youll have to cut it back which wont be good. instead use biotin (i think its called?) to grow your hair out quicker and healtier. For face ill link some makeup tutorials on how to femminize your face. if you dont have makeup then try to wear jewlery ie:chokers, earings, necklaces, or other face items like round glasses or eyelashs (they can be bought for like 4 dollars at claires or a dollar store).

2. chest and upper body

one of the best things you can get for chest dysphoria is pushup bras, padding, or a sports bra. somethings thats worked for me that could work for some of you is use socks as padding if you cant afford padding or gels. the way to do it is fold them from tip to back and put it in your bra. it works well for hiding a flat chest or a lack of curves. another thing for curves is to wear waist liners, but dont make them to tight itll fuck up your ribs major.

3. tucking and legs

as a trans women whos goal is to pass tucking is a necisary evil. the way to tuck is to push your balls into theyre sockets and pull back the p*nis between your butt. to keep a tuck in place theres 4 methods ranked from safest to dangerous.

gaffs are special panties made for trans women to tuck tightly and comftarbly. they can cost anywhere from 15 to 250 dollars US. homemade ones can also be made (linked below)

multiple pairs of panties (usually 2 or 3) can be put over the tuck to make it stay (this is the method i use)

duct tape is very dangerous but works so well for things like bathing suits or lingerie. it can however rip skin and cause epidermal damage from the adhesives

and finally is hair ties. yes, some people do this. wrapping hair ties around the scroatal skin can cause blood lose and need for surgery to removed the killed skin.

for legs wear tights and mom jeans to hide a lack of curves (unless you have them).

and for the crescendo

voice:

i will link tutorials below but the best way is to push back your adams apple and speak from the top of your throat and not your chest. practice this on an app like voice pitch anyliser made for trans voice training

please reblog this so all our trans sisters can see💖

-love, alexis texas⛦

edit: @discyours suggested instead of sports bras which when worn for long periods can cause damage, to have vest bras i think theyre called?