Supporting LGBTQIA+ young people
Many young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, or of diverse sexualities and genders (LGBTQIA+), will experience higher rates of bullying, discrimination, self-harm, suicidality, and other physical and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. They experience these things not because of who they are, how they feel or how they identify, but due to external factors such as a lack of understanding and support from family, friends and service providers, and in educational settings.
This will help you to:
- support your LGBTQIA+ students
- understand the difference between sex, gender and sexuality.
How can I support LGBTQIA+ students?
One of the most effective ways to support young LGBTQIA+ people is through educating the whole-school community, including teachers, staff and students, on creating a safer and inclusive learning environment for all students.
It also means having an understanding of anti-discrimination laws, and of policies and procedures your school can implement, and knowing about the wide range of resources that exist to support you and students. This page contains information and resources, as well as links to information on trusted, contemporary sites. We have also included services for young LGBTQIA+ people, and some training if you decide you would like more comprehensive information.
What’s the difference between sex, gender and sexuality?
Sex, gender and sexuality are more complex concepts than people might think:
- Sex: Refers to the legal status that was initially determined by sex characteristics observed at birth.
- Sex characteristics: A person’s physical sex features, such as their chromosomes, hormones and reproductive organs.
- Gender: When talking about gender, it’s practical to break this out into gender identity and gender expression.
- Gender identity: How someone inherently knows what their gender is in their brain and body, despite what their sex assigned at birth might be.
- Gender expression: How someone expresses their gender externally through things like hairstyle, clothing, mannerisms, name and pronouns.
- Sexuality: Relates to who people are attracted to. It’s good to know that people can experience attraction in ways that are physical, sexual and romantic – and those attractions may be with people of different genders and/or sexualities.
What are some key terms and language I should know?
Language is important and can play a vital role in a young LGBTQIA+ person’s life. Here are some key terms and language that you may commonly encounter or hear when working with LGBTQIA+ people:
Affirmation: Sometimes referred to as ‘transitioning’, this is a process of someone affirming their gender identity. It’s a very personal process and can look very different from one person to another. Some of the steps that people can take include changing their name and pronoun, as well as their gender expression (clothes, hairstyle, etc.), to reflect their gender identity; amending legal documents such as their passport and birth certificate; taking hormones and puberty blockers; and undergoing surgery. People might do all of these things, or only one or two. There is no right or wrong way to affirm gender or to transition.
Asexual: This means that someone is not sexually attracted to other people. Remember that attractions don’t have to be sexual.
Binary: This is the way the world primarily defines gender – as male or female – with nothing in between. Gender can be viewed in a non-binary way, as a spectrum or as expansive.
Brotherboy/Sistergirl: Sistergirls and Brotherboys have distinct cultural identities and roles. Sistergirls are Indigenous people who were classified as male at birth but live their lives as women, including taking on traditional cultural female practices. Brotherboys are Indigenous people who were classified as female at birth but who have a male spirit.
Cisgender/Cis: This term is used to describe people whose gender corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth.
Intersex: Intersex people are born with physical features, such as genitals, chromosomes or genetic features, that don’t fit what doctors expect for either male or female bodies.
Masc/Femme: These are terms generally used to describe someone’s gender expression or identity, with ‘masc’ referring to more masculine-appearing/identifying people and ‘femme’ referring to those who are more feminine in their appearance/identification. It’s good to remember that someone may not identify as male or female but may still have a masc or femme expression.
Non-binary (also known as ‘gender non-conforming’, ‘gender queer’ or ‘gender fluid’): Refers to someone who doesn’t identify as either male or female.
Pronouns: We all know what these are, but in this context pronouns can play an important role in how someone communicates and expresses their gender identity. Common pronouns are she/her/hers, he/him/his and they/them/theirs.
Queer: ‘Queer’ is an umbrella term that a diverse range of LGBTQIA+ people may use to describe themselves or to identify as. Historically, it would have been used as a slur, but it has been reclaimed by the communities themselves.
They/Them/Theirs: In Australia, this is the most commonly used pronoun for someone who identifies as non-binary.
Transgender/Trans: This term refers to someone who affirms their gender through a gender affirmation or transition process. Oftentimes, someone will be assigned female or male gender at birth (based on their sex characteristics) when that is not their gender identity.
Transitioning: see Affirmation.
How can I support LGBTQIA+ young people?
Many LGBTQIA+ young people experience discrimination and barriers that prevent equity of access and engagement in the school community. Here are some tips to support these students:
School, staff and management:
- Advocate for policies and procedures at your school that promote inclusion and diversity and position your school as a safer space for LGBTQIA+ students and staff. There is an example policy in the ‘Resource’ section of the Twenty10 website.
- Educate yourself, fellow staff, management and other students around inclusion and diversity. Consider LGBTQIA+ training for all staff. It’s important that young LGBTQIA+ people don’t have to do the emotional labour or continuous self-advocacy, as they will generally already have a large workload.
- Make space for, or support students to celebrate, diversity days on the community calendar, such as Wear It Purple Day, IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia) and Mardi Gras.
- Ensure that all school staff are aware of students’ pronouns and use their correct pronouns and names.
Working with students:
- Support students to set up a student-led Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
- Support students to inform the school of what they want and need, to have a safe schooling environment. This includes giving students the autonomy to make their own decisions regarding medical procedures.
- Centre the individual voices of young people who may be transitioning or affirming their gender. Be guided by what their needs are, and be led by how they would like details of their transition to be shared, if at all.
- Confidentiality is paramount. Where possible, never disclose details of a student’s gender, sexuality or intersex status without their approval.
School facilities:
- Have visible markers that demonstrate the school is a safe, inclusive space, such as rainbow posters or a rainbow flag, and make printed resources available in central spaces that young people can access easily without having to request them.
- Ensure you are able to provide a gender-neutral toilet and change-room facilities for students to access.
Support services for LGBTQIA+ people (in alphabetical order)
Forcibly Displaced People Network
Promotes human rights and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ persons in forced displacement through peer support and strengthening services and policy responses.
Provides a range of specialised service enabling the exploration of gender identity and assistance with the alleviation of gender dysphoria.
Intersex Human Rights Australia
IHRA is the leading advocacy organisation in Australia working for the rights of intersex people.
Intersex Peer Support Australia
Peer support, information and advocacy group for people born with variations in sex characteristics and their families.
LGBTQIA+ youth organisation focused on smashing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia through life-affirming events, education and youth empowerment.
Supports and mentors LGBTIQIA+ professionals as they navigate their way through the early stages of their career.
Provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ young people.
Anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
Free and anonymous LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
Resources for teachers and the whole-school community
Twenty10’s 8 Tips to Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Students in Schools
Practical suggestions on how to help trans and gender diverse students at school.
Guide to Supporting a Student to Affirm or Transition Gender Identity at School
Step-by-step guide for schools supporting transgender and gender diverse students.
Intersex Human Rights Australia
IHRA is the leading advocacy organisation in Australia working for the rights of intersex people.
New South Wales based, ACON led project with resources for Educators as well as extensive information across a range of topics.
Victorian based trans-led advocacy organisation and has lots of great downloadable resources.
Interactive website to learn about pronouns.
Offers resources for young people and services that work with them.
What can I do now?
- Use ReachOut Schools classroom activities on bullying, friendships and resilience with students.
- Learn more on how to create a supportive learning environment.
- Reiterate to students that no one else can dictate their gender and sexuality, and that they have the right to make their own choices regarding their gender and sexuality.
- It can be helpful to direct students to support services that specialise in gender identity and sexuality support services that can be anonymous.