How to use this toolkit
- Read about the importance of supporting and protecting LGBTQ+ students, take action, and get involved with the movement
- Find art to help you communicate your opinions and express your emotions
- Learn how to talk about this issue effectively and respectfully, particularly with those who think differently
- Explore resources to help you learn more about LGBTQ+ issues
Stand Against Hate and Bias
Context
We all deserve the right to live, work, and thrive no matter our sexual orientation or gender identities—no exceptions. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms and divide us, so they can get and hold onto power at any cost—even if that means denying us the basic rights, resources, and respect that we all deserve.
Educators, parents, students, and communities are uniting across race, genders, and place to demand safe and affirming schools where all our students can learn, grow, and thrive. 
Now is our time to demand the fully resourced and supportive schools all our families need, and to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are free to be their authentic selves and pursue their dreams.
Please use the guidance in this toolkit freely and as you see fit! Share it with your colleagues and community, so we can all work together in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. We're absolute believers that if our words don't spread, they don't work and as such we are honored to have you use this language verbatim.
Narratives
Narratives
6 Key Narratives
Whether we are Black, white or brown, Native or newcomer, transgender or not, we want the freedom to be ourselves. But some people try to get and hold onto power by putting us in boxes based on what we look like, where we’re from, or our genders. We see this in how schools tell Black kids how to keep their hair or send girls home for the clothes they wear. And in how certain politicians exploit lack of familiarity with transgender people, excluding trans kids from healthcare, school, or sports. They stoke fear so we turn against some group instead of demanding what our families need. By joining together, we can make this a place where we are all free to thrive and support each other for who we are.
Educators want to provide every student with an accurate and quality education. But some politicians are pushing laws that restrict some kids' freedom to learn, excluding them from healthcare, school, and sports.
Politicians fuel divisions among parents by pushing laws that erase our history, from Selma to Stonewall. We are not fooled by their cruel and politically motivated tactics and will continue to join parents, students, and educators to make public schools places where we are all free to thrive and support each other for who we are.
Politicians are exploiting lack of familiarity with transgender students to distract us from their failures to deliver for our families and communities. We must work together to force elected officials to address the real issues facing public schools, like solving the teacher shortage, fixing teacher pay, and providing all students with the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
Across our races, backgrounds and genders, we want to be treated with dignity and respect. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms because of the color of our skin, what’s in our wallets, or because we are transgender. They exploit divisions and fears among us so they can get and hold onto power, denying us the basic rights, resources, and respect all people deserve. By [rejecting this division/passing protections against discrimination], we can ensure each one of us has the freedom to be ourselves, pursue our dreams, and have a good life—no exceptions.
Young people across time, race, and movements for equality have always helped lead the way. But now as before, certain politicians are trying to get and hold onto power by silencing young people—stoking fear against Black and brown kids leading protests for racial justice, and taking advantage of unfamiliarity with transgender people to punish students for being their authentic selves. Whenever a powerful few have tried to pick and choose who counts, there have always been those of us who showed up for each other and built welcoming communities. Now it’s our time to show up, reject division, and chart a better future for all of us, no matter our ages, races, or genders.
Message Guidance
Creating Welcoming and Empowering Schools
Creating Welcoming and Empowering Schools
NEA LGBTQ+ Trainings
Creating an Inclusive Space
A Guide to Pronouns
HRC Back to School Checklist
LBGTQ+ Book Recommendations
GLSEN Rainbow Library
Your Rights and Protections
New Title IX Rules: An Overview
On April 19, 2024, the Biden Administration, through the U.S. Department of Education (ED), released its final rule “to fully effectuate Title IX’s promise that no person experiences sex discrimination in federally funded education.” The new rule amends the existing Title IX regulations and goes into effect on August 1, 2024.
This overview details the protections the new rule provides in three main areas: 1) protections for LGBTQ+ students and educators; 2) protections for pregnancy and related conditions; and 3) changes to requirements for schools to prevent, investigate, and respond to complaints of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment.
Transgender Awareness and Support
Transgender Awareness and Support
Legal Guidance on Transgender Students' Rights
Schools in Transition: A Guide to Support Transgender Students in K-12
Trans Action Kit
Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Youth and the Freedom To Be Ourselves
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws and Legislation
Art to Share
Art to Share
Watch This
Learn More
Do More
Your Union. Your Voice.
Take Action on Racial & Social Justice
We are on a mission to dismantle unjust systems, and together, as educators and allies, we can take actions to address the inequities that result from institutionally racist policies and practices in our schools and the communities in which our students live.
Join us to work for access and opportunity for all students.
