LGBTQ+ for Educators

This position statement asserts that all children have the right to equitable learning opportunities that help them achieve their full potential as engaged learners and valued members of society. Recommendations are given for early childhood educators, administrators, faculty, and policy makers to advance equity in early childhood education. Evidence for this position statement, including principles of child development and learning and the social-cultural content of child development and learning, are provided.

The Bias Inside Us Educator Toolkit is a free educational resource, which contains a set of posters, and an educators guide used for facilitating conversation, and is intended to be used in conjunction with The Bias Inside Us online exhibit.

Explore this collection of resources to learn ways to enhance relationships with parents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Directors, teachers, providers, and parents will find information and strategies to create an early childhood setting that is welcoming and inclusive, build staff professionalism, and engage all families in their program. A list of children’s books that include diverse family structures is provided.

This Young Children article presents a case of a child, assigned male at birth, who chooses activities that are stereotypically feminine. The child’s family does not support these actions. This article gives a helpful glossary of terms, and dives deep into the ethics of the teacher’s decision-making process using guidance from the NAEYC Code of Ethics.

This website contains resources, research and programs to support LGBTQ+ students. GLSEN believes that every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education. GLSEN are a national network of educators, students, and local Chapters working to make this right a reality.

This resource provides a beginning understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, while also providing information on how to promote acceptance. The resources included are meant to offer a good jumping off point when it comes to talking to children about identifying on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and what it means to be an ally.

Early childhood educators may be interested in practical guidance on engaging with families who are concerned about their child’s gender expression. This Young Children article encourages teachers to build relationships with families to support their children, including being curious, engaging hopes and fears, and providing child development context.

Uniting Pride was founded in 2009 as an organization to advocate for the equality, wellness, advocacy, and visibility of the LGBTQ+ communities in Champaign County. This educator-focused resource list includes learning materials, information about youth rights at school, and weblinks for how to create a safe school environment for LGBTQ+ individuals.