Educators

Educators have a big job, and part of that is working to make everyone in their classrooms and institutions feel safe and able to learn. In most cases, this is no different for trans students as it is for anyone else. There are though, some specific things educators can do to support the trans people in their lives.

For younger children, who are spending more time at school than anywhere else, creating a culture of respect, affirmation, and care for trans students, and each other can go a long way to helping young trans people feel confident, capable, and able to focus on their school work.

As students get older, how we want them to feel doesn’t change, but the ways we might go about that can change depending on their age, the institution, and each teacher. No matter where a student is in their life, being allies to them can help them not only feel affirmed and supported, but able to work and study successfully as a result.

For more information about how to support students at every level of education, visit our School & University page.

Being an ally can’t be summed up with a list, but the below points are a great start.

Name and pronouns

Using the name and pronouns preferred by a student can be an easy and important way to make them feel welcome, cared for, and able to participate. Normalising using people’s pronouns and names helps to challenge stigma and the idea that trans people have “preferred pronouns” and “chosen names”, unlike cis people, who just have pronouns and names.

Consider modelling this, even if you’re not aware of any trans students in your care. This could mean writing your name and pronouns and putting them on your desk, or including them on the corner of a whiteboard or presentation, and being clear and confident when people ask what they are and why you write them there.

It can also be helpful to take people’s pronouns down when you first take a roll or attendance list, and writing them down so you have them to refer to in future. As part of this, you can mention that you’re happy to have a private conversation at any point if a student is using a different pronoun, or has pronouns they’d prefer to use privately but not in front of the whole class.

It can also sometimes be difficult to shift to using neutral pronouns like they/them for someone, even though we’ve been using them in the English language for centuries. You can also read more about pronouns on our page here.

Talking about trans people in a historical context can be a tough one. It’s always a good idea to use your trans person’s correct name and pronouns, even when sharing a story from before they told you they were trans.

Your mind may project an image of them from the past, and you may suddenly find yourself stumbling over their name or pronouns. Try to avoid statements like ‘I knew Jessica when she was Jim’ – that’s not your information to share. It can take some practice but just apologise and stick with it.

Don’t hesitate to seek out counselling support, if you need it. You can talk as much as you like, about anyone in your life, with a therapist.

Creating a culture of respect

A culture of respect means people of all different identities and experiences support each other, and help to challenge discrimination and harmful behaviour. A culture of respect grows when we choose to work hard to support and respect others.

In educational settings, this may look like putting up LGBTQ+ affirming posters, art, and information in a classroom or common room, helping to start a GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) - where LGBTQ+ students and allies can meet and get to know each other, distributing resources in schools and requesting training for staff and students such as through the NSW Teachers Federation or organisations including Twenty10.

“Sometimes, there is pressure to “remain neutral” from parents and colleagues. However, it’s not possible to remain truly neutral when it comes to inclusivity. What does silence tell the community?”

Twenty10

Sharing resources for support and education

Finding resources for self-education and sharing these at an institutional level can go a long way to establish and maintain a culture of respect and care.

We love the online professional development course ‘My Friend Has Two Mums’ – an online course exploring gender and sexuality in early childhood, which is NESA approved so that NSW teachers can receive 20 hours accredited training for completing the course.

There are many ways to be a great ally, and some things to try and avoid when affirming the trans people in your life.

Making it about your struggle

Sometimes it can feel difficult or overwhelming to be a good ally to someone through gender affirmation, not because of their gender, but because supporting anyone through any sort of life change can be difficult.

It would be no different for any other big change they might undergo. However, it’s important to not direct these feelings at the trans or gender diverse person in your life, or to take it out on them.

Taking those feelings elsewhere, to a colleague, manager, mental health professional, partner or friend is much better than making your student feel like your feelings are their problem to deal with or respond to.

What about sexuality?

Even though LGBTQ+ are grouped together in an acronym, being trans or gender diverse relates to gender, whereas being lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or asexual is about sexuality.

While some trans people are also LGBQ+, not all trans people are, and it’s completely possible to be trans and heterosexual (ie. A trans woman who is attracted to men). Importantly, don’t assume the language that someone might use or feel comfortable with, and if in doubt and it’s appropriate to do so, just ask.

It might be helpful to see the trans experience as part of the relationship we have with ourselves, whereas sexuality can be more about the relationship we have with others.

Outing someone without their permission

As with many other things, consent is key.

If a student comes to you and talks to you about their gender or the language they’d prefer you use, ask when they’d prefer you use affirming language: eg. All the time, only in private with them, etc.

A student may want you to know they’re trans but not any classmates, or are okay for people at school to know it but are still scared about what their family might say. Take their lead.

Respecting this and their decisions is an important part of supporting them, as is letting them know if you stumble and tell someone they didn’t want you to. This approach is often better than hoping it will just go away and them finding out the hard way.

We love Justice Connect’s resource Your Legal Rights At School. It covers what discrimination at school looks like, your rights and the law, and where you can find more information or get support.

A great way to support the trans people in your life is to learn more about trans people in general, including the different ways that gender affirmation can look. We recommend starting with our 101 section, which provides an overview of who trans people are, what gender affirmation consists of, and answers some of the big questions we’re asked. 

Also, while the gender affirmation sections of TransHub are written for trans and gender diverse people, anyone can read them and learn more about us. Find out more at the Social, Medical, and Legal sections.