This document provides information and guidance about being an ally to GLBTQ youth. It defines key terms related to gender identity and sexual orientation. It also shares facts about challenges GLBTQ youth often face and outlines laws that protect their rights. The document encourages allies to openly support LGBTQ individuals, check in with LGBTQ friends, use preferred pronouns, and work to make schools and workplaces safe and supportive environments for all.

1. GLBT Youth: Free 2 B U How to be a strong and supportive ally

2. What are we gonna do today? Riddle Scale – Where are you at? Talk about GLBTQQA terms Youth in WI – Facts and stuff. Know your rights Riddle revisited How to be a Strong and Supportive Ally

3. Riddle Scale Nurturance Appreciation Admiration Support Acceptance Tolerance Pity Repulsion

4. Terms 101 Biological Sex: This can be considered our “packaging” and is determined by our chromosomes, our hormones, and our internal and external genitalia. Gender Identity: Our innermost concept of self as “ male” or “female”—what we perceive and call ourselves. Gender Role: This is the set of roles and behaviors assigned to females and males by society. Transgender: A broad term that includes transsexuals, cross-dressers, drag queens/kings, and people who do not identify as either of the two sexes as currently defined. Cisgender: This term refers to someone whose gender identity is the same as the biological sex they were assigned at birth . Straight Ally: Any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people.

5. Gender Expression: Refers to the ways in which people externally communicate their gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and emphasizing, de-emphasizing, or changing their bodies’ characteristics. Sexual Orientation: This is determined by our sexual and emotional attractions. Categories of sexual orientation include homosexuals—gay, lesbian—attracted to some members of the same sex; bisexuals, attracted to some members of more than one sex; and heterosexuals, attracted to some members of another sex. Sexual Identity: This is how we perceive and what we call ourselves. Such labels include “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual,” “bi,” “queer,” “questioning,” “heterosexual,” “straight,” and others. Queer: Historically a negative term used against people perceived to be LGBT, “queer” has more recently been reclaimed by some people as a positive term describing all those who do not conform to rigid notions of gender and sexuality. Questioning: Refers to people who are uncertain as to their sexual orientation or gender identity Terms 101

6. Facts and Stuff While many GLBT youth will develop into healthy & well adjusted adults, GLBT youth are at the highest levels of risks for a variety of problems, such as: Mental health issues such as depression & suicide Harassment in schools, poor grades, truancy and drop-out Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and abuse Runaway & throw-away youth Pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV Abuse, violence and safety issues

7. Facts and Stuff

8. Know Your Rights Equal Protection Clause of the 14 th Amendment What it says: No state shall…deny to any person within Its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. What it means: This guarantees equal protection under the law to ALL citizens, and applies to public schools. All students have a federal, constitutional right to equal protection under the law, which means that schools have a duty to protect LGBT students from harassment on an equal basis with all other students.

9. Know Your Rights Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972 What it says: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.“ What it means: This also applies to public schools, and prohibits gender-based harassment , including harassment on the basis of a student’s failure to conform to stereotyped notions of masculinity and femininity.

10. Know Your Rights Wisconsin State Statute 118.13 What it says: “ No person may be denied the benefits or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.” What it means: A pupil may not be excluded from a public school, or from any school activities or programs, or be treated in a different manner for any of the reasons listed above. Each public school is required by law to have written policies that prohibit discrimination against pupils for any of the reasons listed above, and they must have a way for pupils to file complaints of discrimination.

11. Riddle Revisited Nurturance Assumes that gay/lesbian people are indispensable in our society. They view lesbians/gays with genuine affection and delight, and are willing to be allies and advocates. Appreciation Value the diversity of people and see lesbian/gays as a valid part of that diversity. These people are willing to combat homophobia in themselves and others . Admiration Acknowledges that being lesbian/gay in our society takes strength. People at this level are willing to truly examine their homophobic attitudes, values, and behaviors. Support Work to safeguard the rights of lesbians and gays. People at this level may be uncomfortable themselves, but they are aware of the homophobic climate and the irrational unfairness.

12. How 2 be a Strong & Supportive Ally Come out as an ally! Let others know you support LGBT people Check in with your friends Don’t assume someone’s partner is the opposite sex Ask for PGP – preferred gender pronoun (he, she, xie) Name it, Claim it, Stop it! Work to make your school or office a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

13. RESOURCES Harmony Café GLBT Services We build a strong GLBT and Allied community through advocacy, education, support, and social events www.harmonycafe.org Diverse & Resilient Building capacity in Wisconsin groups and communities to assure the healthy development of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth www.diverseandresilient.org GSA for Safe Schools A public benefit organization committed to safe middle schools and high schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youths and all students. www.gsaforsafeschools.org