LGBTQ+ Students
It is critical that educators and leaders treat the diversity of students as assets that add value to learning by affirming the qualities that make students unique. Safe and welcoming schools and classrooms that uphold student dignity are a necessary condition for an equitable education. Every Virginia student, regardless of their gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, has a right to learn free from discrimination and harassment. The Virginia Department of Education is committed to working with divisions to ensure Virginia schools are welcoming, affirming, and safe for all students.
Virginia’s Education Equity Framework, Navigating EdEquityVA, outlines our commitment to dismantle any and all forms of inequity in Virginia’s public education system and includes strategies to support LGBTQ+ students. The Roadmap is guided by the EdEquityVA Compass (PDF), which articulates the essential competencies and strategies necessary to advance equity in the Commonwealth for Virginia’s most marginalized student populations. Below we have outlined resources specific to LGBTQ+ Students.
Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools
In response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161 that were enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) developed Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. To comply with § 22.1-23.3 of the Code of Virginia, local school boards shall adopt policies consistent with these model policies by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Schools are encouraged to conduct a comprehensive equity audit to help facilitate this process, which can be found on the Navigating EdEquityVA webpage.
The final version of the model policies is now available on the Virginia Department of Education’s Gender Diversity webpage along with additional resources to assist school divisions in developing and implementing their local policies. For questions related specifically to the model policies, please contact Quyen Duong, Student Services Specialist in the Office of Student Services, at Quyen.Duong@doe.virginia.gov.
Additional Resources
Resources for Educators
- Educator Guides and Resources for Increasing LGBTQ Visibility and Affirmation in Any Curriculum (GLSEN)
- For LGBTQ Students, School Closures Can Mean the Loss of a Critical Safe Space (New America)
- Webinar: LGBTQ Best Practices: Classroom Culture and Curriculum (Teaching Tolerance)
- Understanding the Experiences of LGBTQ Students (WestEd)
- Head Back To School With LGBTQ Competency (Human Rights Campaign)
- Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Classroom Resources (GLSEN)
- Organization to Follow: Trans-Latinx DMV
- LGBTQ+ History Month Resources (Teaching Tolerance)
- LGBT Youth Resources (American Psychological Association)
- Promoting Resiliency for Gender Diverse and Sexual Minority Students in Schools (American Psychological Association)
- Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Schools: Key Recommendations for School Administrators (American Psychological Association)
- Gender Inclusive Schools Toolkit (Gender Spectrum)
- Safe Space Kit (GLSEN)
- Schools in Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools (Gender Spectrum)
- Words Matter Gender Justice Toolkit (National Black Justice Coalition)
- A Practitioner’s Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children (SAMHSA)
- Classroom Resources (Teaching Tolerance)
- US Department of HHS and National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement Healthy Gender Development and Young Children: A Guide for Early Childhood Programs and Professionals
- Welcoming Schools
- Resources on how to support LGBTQ students during social distancing. (Teaching Tolerance and the Trevor Project)
Professional Development Resources
- American Counseling Association LGBTQ-Affirmative Counseling Competencies (in partnership with Human Rights Campaign)
- Garden State Equality Professional Development Workshops
- GLSEN Professional Development
- Rainstorms to Rainbows (LGBTQ+ Consulting and Counseling)
- Side by Side Trainings
- Teaching Tolerance (Gender & Sexual Identity Webinars)
- The Safe Zone Project (Awareness and Ally Training Workshops)
- Welcoming Schools Professional Development
Resources for Students
- Campus Pride
- LGBTQ Youth Resources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Transgender Resources (Human Rights Campaign)
- It Gets Better Project
- Trans Youth Handbook: Helping You Learn About Your Legal Rights in Different Areas of Your Life (Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic and NCLR)
- Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia
- The Trevor Project
- Teen & Young Adult Transgender Clinic (University of Virginia)
- Virginia Transgender Resource and Referral List (Virginia Department of Health)
- Resources for LGBTQ Youth (Virginia Department of Health)
Resources for Parents
- Resources for Families of LGBTQ Youth (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
- Helping Families Support Their LGBT Children
- Movement Advancement Project Family Support: Resources for Families of Transgender & Gender Diverse Children
- PFLAG
- TransYouth Family Allies Resources for Parents
- Transgender and Non-Binary Children: Books to Help Adults Understand (Welcoming Schools)
Advocacy Organizations to Follow
- Equality Virginia
- Gender Spectrum
- GLSEN Richmond Chapter
- GLSEN Northern Virginia Chapter
- He She Ze and We
- National Black Justice Coalition
- National Center for Transgender Equality Youth & Student Issues
- Shenandoah LGBTQ Center
- Side by Side
- Trans-Latinx DMV
