Sex & Gender - Diversity | Equity | Inclusion Resources at Truman College

Sex | refers to a person's biological status and is typically assigned at birth, usually on the basis of external anatomy. Sex is typically categorized as male, female or intersex.

Gender | is often defined as a social construct of norms, behaviors and roles that varies between societies and over time. Gender is often categorized as male, female or nonbinary.

Books @ CCC

Cover art Queer & Trans Advocacy in the Community College

Cover art Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics

Cover art The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins

Print Books

Ferree, M. M. & Wade, L. (2023). Gender : ideas, interactions, institutions. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. "The new gold standard for sociology of gender courses. An instant best-seller and now the leading book for the course, Wade and Ferree's Gender is an accessible and inclusive introduction to sociological perspectives on gender. Drawing on memorable examples mined from history, pop culture, and current events, Gender deftly moves between theoretical concepts and applications to everyday life. Revised throughout to be more inclusive and intersectional, the Third Edition features expanded coverage of the nonbinary and trans experience and new discussions of the impact of Covid-19 on families and work"-- Provided by publisher.
Gainsburg, J. (2023). The savvy ally : a guide for becoming a skilled LGBTQ + advocate. Rowman & Littlefield. "The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate is an enjoyable, humorous, encouraging, easy to understand guidebook for being an ally to LGBTQ+ communities"-- Provided by publisher.
Garcia, M. (2023). We are not born submissive : how patriarchy shapes women's lives. Princeton University Press. "We Are Not Born Submissive offers the first in-depth philosophical exploration of female submission, focusing on the thinking of Simone de Beauvoir, and more recent work in feminist philosophy, epistemology, and political theory. Manon Garcia argues that to comprehend female submission, we must invert how we examine power and see it from the woman's point of view. Historically, philosophers, psychoanalysts, and even some radical feminists have conflated femininity and submission. Garcia demonstrates that only through the lens of women's lived experiences--their economic, social, and political situations--and how women adapt their preferences to maintain their own well-being, can we understand the ways in which gender hierarchies in society shape women's experiences. Ultimately, she asserts that women do not actively choose submission. Rather, they consent to--and sometimes take pleasure in--what is prescribed to them through social norms within a patriarchy"---Back cover.
Goetsch, D. (2022). This body I wore : a memoir. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. "A memoir of one woman's long journey to late transition, in an era before real community or appropriate language was available to help her understand herself"-- Provided by publisher.

eBooks

Chacaby, M. & Plummer, M. L. (2016). A Two-Spirit Journey : The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder. University of Manitoba Press. A compelling, harrowing, but ultimately uplifting story of resilience and self-discovery.'A Two-Spirit Journey'is Ma-Nee Chacaby's extraordinary account of her life as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian. From her early, often harrowing memories of life and abuse in a remote Ojibwa community riven by poverty and alcoholism, Chacaby's story is one of enduring and ultimately overcoming the social, economic, and health legacies of colonialism. As a child, Chacaby learned spiritual and cultural traditions from her Cree grandmother and trapping, hunting, and bush survival skills from her Ojibwa stepfather. She also suffered physical and sexual abuse by different adults, and in her teen years became alcoholic herself. At twenty, Chacaby moved to Thunder Bay with her children to escape an abusive marriage. Abuse, compounded by racism, continued, but Chacaby found supports to help herself and others. Over the following decades, she achieved sobriety; trained and worked as an alcoholism counsellor; raised her children and fostered many others; learned to live with visual impairment; and came out as a lesbian. In 2013, Chacaby led the first gay pride parade in Thunder Bay. Ma-Nee Chacaby has emerged from hardship grounded in faith, compassion, humour, and resilience. Her memoir provides unprecedented insights into the challenges still faced by many Indigenous people.
Fujiwara, L., & Roshanravan, S. (2018). Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics. University of Washington Press. Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics brings together groundbreaking essays that speak to the relationship between Asian American feminisms, feminist of color work, and transnational feminist scholarship. This collection, featuring work by both senior and rising scholars, considers topics including the politics of visibility, histories of Asian American participation in women of color political formations, accountability for Asian American “settler complicities” and cross-racial solidarities, and Asian American community-based strategies against state violence as shaped by and tied to women of color feminisms. Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics provides a deep conceptual intervention into the theoretical underpinnings of Asian American studies; ethnic studies; women's, gender, and sexual studies; as well as cultural studies in general.
Harris-Perry, M. V. (2011). Sister Citizen. Yale University Press. Jezebel's sexual lasciviousness, Mammy's devotion, and Sapphire's outspoken anger—these are among the most persistent stereotypes that black women encounter in contemporary American life. Hurtful and dishonest, such representations force African American women to navigate a virtual crooked room that shames them and shapes their experiences as citizens. Many respond by assuming a mantle of strength that may convince others, and even themselves, that they do not need help. But as a result, the unique political issues of black women are often ignored and marginalized. In this groundbreaking book, Melissa V. Harris-Perry uses multiple methods of inquiry, including literary analysis, political theory, focus groups, surveys, and experimental research, to understand more deeply black women's political and emotional responses to pervasive negative race and gender images. Not a traditional political science work concerned with office-seeking, voting, or ideology, Sister Citizen instead explores how African American women understand themselves as citizens and what they expect from political organizing. Harris-Perry shows that the shared struggle to preserve an authentic self and secure recognition as a citizen links together black women in America, from the anonymous survivors of Hurricane Katrina to the current First Lady of the United States.
Hazarika, A. (2017). Walk the Talk : Women, Work, Equity, Effectiveness: Vol. First Edition. Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. If we recognize that economic growth requires the efficient allocation of resources, then how can half of the world's population be prevented from making a full contribution? We acknowledge that women are different, yet fail to realize their potential as equals. We accept that women need to be empowered, yet debate who should take the lead and who the stakeholders are. This book grows directly out of the personal challenges the author grappled with, the conversations she has had with women in a variety of settings, and the constructive debates with corporate representatives and policy planners on how the process of change should be initiated. It asserts that the responsibility of enhancing gender diversity at the workplace does not lie entirely with the companies, although much work needs to be done by them, but with several stakeholders—the government, NGOs, men, and women themselves—all of whom need to work together to bring about an equitable environment for women at the workplace. When these stakeholders operate in isolation they are less effective; they add greater value when networked. This book is a must-read for those who would like to walk the talk and suggests how together we can ensure equity with effectiveness. It provides ideas and agenda for action to create an ecosystem of empowerment.
Johnson, J. M. (2022). Queer & Trans Advocacy in the Community College. Information Age Publishing. LGBTQ+ advocacy and support continues to be a priority in the U.S. higher education, and recent research shows this as a critical population who continues to be marginalized and mistreated on college and university campuses. Over the last few decades there has been significant research describing how LGBTQ students experience higher education and highlighting that these students are not graduating or succeeding at the same rates as the general population. However, few if any research studies or articles address LGBTQ advocacy on community college campuses. There are more than 1,000 community colleges in the U.S. Even with the extraordinary number of students that the community college system educates, approximately 15 institutions nationally have paid staff to provide LGBTQ services to students. That being said, community colleges are now putting a larger emphasis on understanding and supporting this community. For example, The California Community College (CCC) system's 116 colleges now require all campuses to create a plan on how to improve success rates of LGBTQ+ students. The CCC is the largest higher education system in the country serving over 2 million students. This comprehensive practitioner focused book will combine relevant research and guidance on practices to aid colleges in establishing services and programs to build effective LGBTQ+ services on their college campuses.
Mock, J. (2014). Redefining Realness : My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More: Vol. First Atria books hardcover edition. Atria Books. In her profound and courageous New York Times bestseller, Janet Mock establishes herself as a resounding and inspirational voice for the transgender community—and anyone fighting to define themselves on their own terms.With unflinching honesty and moving prose, Janet Mock relays her experiences of growing up young, multiracial, poor, and trans in America, offering readers accessible language while imparting vital insight about the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of a marginalized and misunderstood population. Though undoubtedly an account of one woman's quest for self at all costs, Redefining Realness is a powerful vision of possibility and self-realization, pushing us all toward greater acceptance of one another—and of ourselves—showing as never before how to be unapologetic and real.
Stevenson, B. (2013). The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins : Justice, Gender, and the Origins of the LA Riots. Oxford University Press. Helicopters patrolled low over the city, filming blocks of burning cars and buildings, mobs breaking into storefronts, and the vicious beating of truck driver Reginald Denny. For a week in April 1992, Los Angeles transformed into a cityscape of rage, purportedly due to the exoneration of four policemen who had beaten Rodney King. It should be no surprise that such intense anger erupted from something deeper than a single incident. In The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins, Brenda Stevenson tells the dramatic story of an earlier trial, a turning point on the road to the 1992 riot. On March 16, 1991, fifteen-year-old Latasha Harlins, an African American who lived locally, entered the Empire Liquor Market at 9172 South Figueroa Street in South Central Los Angeles. Behind the counter was a Korean woman named Soon Ja Du. Latasha walked to the refrigerator cases in the back, took a bottle of orange juice, put it in her backpack, and approached the cash register with two dollar bills in her hand-the price of the juice. Moments later she was face-down on the floor with a bullet hole in the back of her head, shot dead by Du. Joyce Karlin, a Jewish Superior Court judge appointed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson, presided over the resulting manslaughter trial. A jury convicted Du, but Karlin sentenced her only to probation, community service, and a $500 fine. The author meticulously reconstructs these events and their aftermath, showing how they set the stage for the explosion in 1992. An accomplished historian at UCLA, Stevenson explores the lives of each of these three women-Harlins, Du, and Karlin-and their very different worlds in rich detail. Through the three women, she not only reveals the human reality and social repercussions of this triangular collision, she also provides a deep history of immigration, ethnicity, and gender in modern America. Massively researched, deftly written, The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins will reshape our understanding of race, ethnicity, gender, and-above all-justice in modern America.

Articles & Essays

APA. (n.d.). APA LGBTQ Resources and Publications. APA. APA has made a significant contribution to the understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people since first dedicating staff time to these populations in 1987. Over the years, APA has produced many resources to educate the public, support the work of psychologists and inform public policy about LGBTQ people and their lives and health needs. This page provides many of those resources, organized by the primary audiences for which they are intended.
APA. (n.d.). Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. APA. Advancing the creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge on gender identity and sexual orientation to benefit society and improve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's lives.
The Chronicle of Higher Education. (n.d.) Diversity in Academe: The Gender Issue. Gender issues have fascinated an confounded people for ages. That certainly holds true in academe these days. In this special report devoted to gender, we look beyond the data. Not long ago, women were the focus of most gender discussions in academe. But now it’s more complicated, with each sex drawing attention for different reasons. It’s well known, for example, that female undergraduates outnumber their male counterparts. But why do they behave so differently, and what can colleges learn about their diverse ways in which men and women engage on campus? In this special report, learn how what attracts men to certain fields, read about the so-called school-to-prison pipeline, and other issues related to gender in academe.
Cooper, T. (2021, February 23). Spotlighting the Intersection of Black and Transgender Identities. Human Rights Campaign. This post is the second of a two-part series focusing on Black History Month through the lens of Black trans women. Read Part One here.
Gamio Cuervo, A. B. (2016, Summer). Latinx: A Brief Handbook. Princeton LGBT Center. Princeton LGBT Center Online Resource -- adopted by LGBT+ and cultural organizations nationally.
Jaekel, K. S. (2017). Engaging in Inclusion: Cultivating LGBTQ Students’ Sense of Belonging through a Critical Place-Based Curriculum. The International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, 8(1), 129-148. While recent literature has highlighted the importance of inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) topics in the composition courses (Alexander and Wallace, 2009; Furrow, 2012), few have outlined how to include these topics. The purpose of this article is to detail how the inclusion of LGBTQ students and topics was achieved in a freshman first-year writing course using a critical place-based curriculum. While most place-based curriculum do not take into account LGBTQ students’ unique lived experiences on a college campus, this article details how conversations and assignments were altered to take into consideration issues of power and privilege on campus. Implications suggest the need for use critical pedagogical practices in the composition classroom.
Rainey, et al. (2018). Race and gender differences in how sense of belonging influences decisions to major in STEM. International Journal of STEM Education, 5(10). Abstract Background: Women and students of color are widely underrepresented in most STEM fields. In order to investigate this underrepresentation, we interviewed 201 college seniors, primarily women and people of color, who either majored in STEM or started but dropped a STEM major. Here we discuss one section of the longer interview that focused on students’ sense of belonging, which has been found to be related to retention. In our analysis, we examine the intersections of race and gender with students’ sense of belonging, a topic largely absent from the current literature. Results: We found that white men were most likely to report a sense of belonging whereas women of color were the least likely. Further, we found that representation within one’s STEM sub-discipline, namely biology versus the physical sciences, impacts sense of belonging for women. Four key factors were found to contribute to sense of belonging for all students interviewed: interpersonal relationships, perceived competence, personal interest, and science identity. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that students who remain in STEM majors report a greater sense of belonging than those who leave STEM. Additionally, we found that students from underrepresented groups are less likely to feel they belong. These findings highlight structural and cultural features of universities, as well as STEM curricula and pedagogy, that continue to privilege white males. Keywords: Gender, Race, Belonging, Intersectional, Retention, Representation
Rosser, S. V. (2012, November 2). More Gender Diversity Will Mean Better Science. Chronicle of Higher Education, 59(10), B22–B23. In this article the author argues that gender diversity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines will produce higher quality research and design in STEM fields. She comments on the increasing number of women bachelor's and master's degree recipients in science, discusses the benefits of medical and biological research focused on women's issues, and shares her view on both gender and racial diversity in the scientific workforce.
Samalin, J. (2016, July 11). Why Being a “Good Guy” Is Not Enough. Yes! Magazine. Why Being a “Good Guy” Is Not Enough - Either you’re actively working against sexual violence or you’re enabling it.
Wamsley, L. (2021, June 2). A Guide To Gender Identity Terms. NPR. Issues of equality and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people — along with challenges to their rights — have become a major topic in the headlines. These issues can involve words and ideas and identities that are new to some. That's why we've put together a glossary of terms relating to gender identity. Our goal is to help people communicate accurately and respectfully with one another.
Wheeler, M. A. & Sojo, V. (2017, March 7). Unconscious bias is keeping women out of senior roles, but we can get around it. The Conversation. Most people would not consciously decide to hire candidates based on whether they remind them of themselves. But one unconscious bias – affinity bias – may lead people to favour candidates who are like themselves, research shows. Affinity or similarity bias is where people seek out those who share their backgrounds, group membership, or experiences. If hiring managers and boards of directors are made up of mostly men who unconsciously engage in such bias, it stands to reason that more men than women will continue to be hired and promoted – particularly men who share the same background with current managers. This only serves to perpetuate the cycle of men outnumbering women in leadership positions. Gender targets, de-identifying CVs and structured interviews are but a few of the strategies that can help eliminate such bias in recruiting employees.
Williamson, S. (2019, March 7). Backlash and gender fatigue. Why progress on gender equality has slowed. The Conversation. We are in the midst of an outpouring of feminist activism kicked off by the pink pussy hat movement in the United States and propelled by #MeToo, which has spread to Australia where a range of luminaries have been named as harassers. And yet we are also in the midst of a backlash, a concern that gender equality has moved too fast, aided by “gender fatigue”. Twenty-seven years ago, Susan Faludi created a furore by documenting what she said was a backlash against women. She said it wasn’t new, as evidenced by penalties imposed on childless and unwed women in ancient Rome, and witch burnings of medieval Europe. Each was a response to perceptions that women were gaining ground. This time it is taking the form of a resurgence of the men’s rights movement, and also in the cries of #notallmen. It is evident in the trolling occurring on feminist websites, negative comments in the media and the rape, violence and death threats inflicted on feminist activists. That’s in social media and society. What about the workplace?
Yengin, D. (2019, March 7). Why women in economics have little to celebrate. The Conversation. International Women’s Day is a good time ask two critical questions about economics: do we have enough women in it, and does it matter? Women are less likely to take it up than they used to be. Twenty five years ago around half of the students studying Year 12 economics were female. Today it is only around one third. In universities, only about 20% to 30% of undergraduate economics students are female. In the public sector, one third of the economists in senior management roles are women. In academia it is far worse: fewer than 10% of economics professors are women, compared of 20% of professors in science, technology and maths.

Audiovisual Resources

A10 Films & Harvard Law Documentary Studio. (2011). Transgression [Film]. Youtube. A short documentary following the story of Norma Ureiro, a transgender immigrant who faced enormous struggles in her life, especially when trying to flee Mexico for the United States. Featuring Norma and two lawyers at Immigration Equality (http://www.immigrationequality.org/ ), a pro bono group that protects LGBTQ immigrants in court. Website: http://transgressionfilm.tumblr.com/
Acho, E. (2020). Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice: Overturning Roe v. Wade - Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Ep. 12 [TV Series Episode]. uncomfortableconvos.com. After the historical overturning of Roe v Wade, in episode 12, Emmanuel sits down to have his most nuanced, complicated, and uncomfortable conversation, yet. He’s joined by Pastor Chelsea Smith of Churchome, 4x Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, TV analyst MJ Acosta-Ruiz and Dr. Yeni Abraham of Triggered PT in Arlington, TX. The women share their own personal stories of abortion, their complex views on pro-choice v pro-life, the role they want men to play & how the Supreme Court’s decision will affect women in this country.
American Documentary, Inc. & the WORLD Channel. (2012-). America ReFramed [TV Series]. The WORLD Channel. America ReFramed brings to life compelling stories, personal voices and experiences that illuminate the contours of our ever-changing country. Since 2012, the series has premiered 170 films - more than half helmed by female makers and a third credited to BIPOC makers - centering stories of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, the formerly incarcerated, veterans, immigrants and more.
Baldoni, J., Plank, L., & Heath, J. (2021, October 25). Joy DeGruy: Access to Respect [Audio podcast episode]. In The Man Enough Podcast. Man Enough, LLC. Spiritual and scholarly, renowned researcher, author, and educator, Dr. Joy DeGruy brings her passion for racial and social justice, along with the facts from her research, to a conversation rooted in healing. Dr. DeGruy invites us to get curious about what’s going on inside our minds, while also challenging us to look at the systems that have caused incredible injury for generations. With warmth and wisdom, Dr. DeGruy gives us permission to connect with ourselves, and one another, as she helps us move beyond masculinity and femininity to remembering and respecting our shared humanity.
Baldoni, J., Plank, L., & Heath, J. (2022, February 14). Man Enough to Care [Audio podcast episode]. In The Man Enough Podcast. Man Enough, LLC. Did you know that about 40% of family caregivers are men? In this special episode Justin Baldoni joins Caring Across Generations’ co-director Ai-jen Poo, former NFL star Devon Still, actor Nathan Kress, author & comedian Zach Anner and long-term care expert Robert Espinoza for a vulnerable, empathetic and uplifting exploration of caregiving. By opening up about their experiences giving and receiving care, they invite us to be a part of building a culture of care: where caregiving is considered a strength, and the work of care is valued, compensated, and supported.
Baldoni, J., Plank, L., & Heath, J. (2022, January 24). Tony Porter: Disrupting the Power Imbalance [Audio podcast episode]. In The Man Enough Podcast. Man Enough, LLC. Pioneering healthy manhood for decades through his organization A Call to Men, Tony Porter—author of Breaking Out of the Man Box, advisor to the NFL, and training facilitator to major sports leagues including the NBA—brings his expertise and humility to a powerful conversation about the actions men can take action to become their authentic selves. With transparency and heart, Tony invites us to disrupt power imbalances, focus on the experiences of Black women, and embrace the humanity of everyone, ourselves included.
Baldoni, J., Plank, L., & Heath, J. (2022, June 20). Jackson Katz: Is Gun Violence A Men's Issue? [Audio podcast episode]. In The Man Enough Podcast. Man Enough, LLC. We felt that we needed to have a conversation on the effects of masculinity on gun violence and mass shootings in the United States. Media coverage and national dialogue rarely connects these tragedies to issues of manhood and misogyny. There’s no one that has been writing and speaking about this longer and more consistently than Jackson Katz, PhD—bestselling author, internationally renowned educator, and a major figure in the movement for gender equality. In this special episode, he brings his expertise to a timely conversation with passion and urgency, imploring men to reexamine what it means to be a protector and have the moral courage to fight for policies that truly serve our society.
Bennett, D. (2022, January 5). Gender-Neutral Language [Audio podcast episode]. In Academic Minute. The Academic Minute. How do languages of the past stack up to today’s new social norms? Deborah Bennett, professor of liberal arts at the Berklee College of Music, explores limits of teaching languages with only male or female pronouns.
Bennett, K. (2019, June 17). Out & Proud – Celebrating Pride Month (S01, E05) [Audio podcast episode]. In Pod for the Cause. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Podcast: Out & Proud – Celebrating Pride Month
Bennett, K. (2021, March 23). SHE-cession (S04, E05) [Audio podcast episode]. In Pod for the Cause. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. In this Women’s History Month-themed episode, we are talking about how the pandemic has highlighted the issues women face today, including the gender and race pay gap, reproductive justice, harassment, and the professional and economic impacts of COVID-19, all through an intersectional lens.
Bennett, K. (2022, March 16). Trans Rights are Civil Rights (S05, E06) [Audio podcast episode]. In Pod for the Cause. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Podcast: Trans Rights are Civil Rights
Biewen, J. (2018). Men (S03) [Audio podcast season]. In Scene on Radio. Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University. What’s up with this male-dominated world? How did we get sexism, patriarchy, misogyny in the first place? How can we get better at seeing it, and what can we do about it? Co-hosts John Biewen and Celeste Headlee explore those questions and more.
Bradford, J. H. (2020, August 19). Session 169: Affirming Your Queer Identity [Audio podcast]. In The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. therapyforblackgirls.com. The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a Licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible version of ourselves. We know that our experiences of sexuality are as varied as we are and wanted to spend some time today digging into what it means to affirm your identity as a Queer person. For this conversation I was joined by Mychelle Williams, LPC. Mychelle and I chatted about what it might look like to explore your sexuality, some of the challenges Queer Black women experience in relationships, and how to find or cultivate spaces that are affirming of your identity. One theme that was consistent in our conversation was the impact that media can have on developing a healthy sense of self and of relationships as a queer person, so we also wanted to hear from an artist who is intentional about creating affirmative images of the Queer community. TV/Film Writer & Director, Felicia Pride also joined me to discuss her new short film, Tender.
Bradford, J. H. (2021, April 14). Session 203: Exploring Gender [Audio podcast]. In The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. therapyforblackgirls.com. Today I’m joined by Dr. g for an important conversation to help us dig a little deeper into gender and gender expression. Dr. g and I chatted about the differences between sex and gender identity, destigmatizing gender expression in the Black community, some of the common misconceptions about non-binary people, and strategies for supporting kids in their gender expression.
Burnside, D. (2020). Prideland [TV Series]. PBS. Follow queer actor Dyllón Burnside on a journey to discover how LGBTQ Americans are finding ways to live authentically and with pride in the modern South.
Cort, J. (2020). How Gender Expression and Roles Have Changed in the Last 72 years [Audio podcast]. In Third Space with Jen Cort. Spreaker.com. Gender roles and gender expression are changing Halia Pratt, (elementary student), Lilly Stewart, (high school student), Tenzin Crowley (college student), Alex DeSautels (woman in her 30's), Carol Taft (woman in her 70's), join Jen Cort (50's) discuss how gender identity and gender expression have changed from one generation to the next.
Cort, J. (2021). Supporting LGBTQ Youth in times of COVID-19 with John Gentile and Becca Mui. [Audio podcast]. In Third Space with Jen Cort. spreaker.com. About our guests: John Gentile currently serves as the Co-Director of the Office for Identity, Culture and Institutional Equity at the Horace Mann School. July 1, he will be joining the Calhoun School community as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is a principal consultant with the Glasgow Group, a faculty member of the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, and a committee member of the NYSAIS Diversity Committee. He is co-founder of (Re)Defining Power, a conference for white males in 6-12th grades exploring their role in equity work. He is a graduate of the School Leadership Masters Program at UPenn. john.gentile.22@gmail.com Glasgow Group https://www.theglasgowgroup.org/ Becca Mui is a queer, cis femme, biracial, social justice advocate. She is currently the Education Manager at GLSEN, a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ support in K-12 schools. In her role, Becca creates resources, oversees GLSEN’s professional development program, and supports educators and administrators in creating LGBTQ-integrated schools. Becca received her Master’s in Education from Bank Street College with a specialization and certification in Literacy. She received a B.A. in English from the College of New Rochelle and a certification for NY State in Elementary Education. She worked for ten years as an elementary teacher, Equity and Inclusion Director, and LGBTQ coordinator.
Cort, J. (2022). Queer and Trans Affirming Mental and Sexual Health Advocacy [Audio podcast]. In Third Space with Jen Cort. Spreaker.com. LGBTQ+ advocates and facilitators Bex Mui and Emily Schorr Lesnick talk with Jen about supports for LGBTQ+ youth, from mental health to sex ed to spirituality, and how they are connected. They’ll share insights from their youth workshop, which shares a variety of perspectives on gender, sexual orientation, and relationship structures and supports students in both reflecting on their own identities, and in advocating for the LGBTQ+ affirming sexual health curriculum they need and deserve.
Delvac, G. (2019, June 28). Pronoun Power [Audio podcast episode]. In Call Your Girlfriend. Call Your Girlfriend, LLC. 6/28/19 - How a functional piece of grammar says so much about the fight for gender equality and better representation for non binary and trans people. We learn about pronoun best practices and how progressive linguists are fighting for better words and more creative expression. If you’ve been wondering… is “they” a good stand-in when you don’t know someone’s gender or pronouns? How do I ask for people’s pronouns? If someone uses she/her does that mean she identifies as a woman? But isn’t “they” a grammatically incorrect singular? We get into all these questions and more.
Dueñas, V. (n.d.). Bibi [Film]. Learning for Justice. Learning for Justice’s streaming classroom film, Bibi, tells the story of a Latinx father and son who can talk about anything—but only in writing, in the letters they pass back and forth when conversation seems too much. And after Ben, affectionately called “Bibi” by his father, hands his father a letter that reads “I’m gay,” the two don’t talk at all. Based on the experiences of the filmmakers behind the project, the 18-minute film explores intersectionality in a powerful way, illustrating the beauty and conflict that can arise as we move between languages, places and societal expectations.
Dupre, J. & McKenna, C. (1998). Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America [Website]. PBS. From the beginning of American history, homosexuality and love between people of the same sex have been part of the social and political landscape. The documentary Out of the Past recovers facets of our history that have been left out of the textbooks and follows one young woman making history today. This site continues the exploration begun by the film, providing glimpses of nearly 400 years of lesbian and gay history, and encouraging you to share relevant stories and news from your own life and community.
GLSEN. (2023). Supporting Trans and GNC Students [Website]. GLSEN. A "wealth of resources that center trans and gender non-conforming students and educators. These resources share personal experiences and can help students and educators learn about gender diversity, pronoun visibility, trans students' rights, and inclusive curriculum and GSA practices."
Gonzalez, J. (2017, November 5). Making School a Safe Place for LGBTQ Students [Audio podcast episode]. In The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast. Cult of Pedagogy. Depending on where you live, you might think we’ve reached a point where society has truly embraced people of all gender and sexual identities, making the topic of LGBTQ rights kind of a non-issue. The truth is, for many LGBTQ students, discrimination and harassment are still a daily reality, and school is one of the main places where they experience these things.
Goodwin, M. (2020-). On the Issues with Michele Goodwin [Audio podcast]. Ms. Magazine. On The Issues With Michele Goodwin at Ms. magazine is a show where we report, rebel, and tell it like it is. On this show, we center your concerns about rebuilding our nation and advancing the promise of equality. Join Michele Goodwin as she and guests tackle the most compelling issues of our times.
National Education Association Center for Social Justice. (n.d.). A Social and Racial Justice Checklist for Safe, Healthy and Just Learning. NEA edjustice. As we expand digital learning models, due to COVID-19, it’s important to remember that students with disabilities, those without access to the internet, and LGBTQ, Black, brown and Indigenous populations are at higher risk of experiencing school closures more intensely. Regardless of the education delivery system during the pandemic, all students must be provided the care and attention and learning opportunities they are guaranteed and deserve. Ask yourself the following questions when planning or assessing digital instruction through a racial justice lens:
Newsom, J. (2015). The Mask You Live In [Video]. The Representation Project. Kanopy. THE MASK YOU LIVE IN follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men. Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it. The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
Pronouns.org. (2022, June 3). Pronouns Matter [Website]. Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns. WHAT ARE PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND WHY DO THEY MATTER? HOW DO I USE PERSONAL PRONOUNS? WHAT IF SOMEONE MAKES A MISTAKE AND MISPRONOUNS SOMEONE ELSE? HOW DO I SHARE MY PERSONAL PRONOUNS? HOW DO I ASK SOMEONE THEIR PERSONAL PRONOUNS? HOW DO I USE GENDER INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE? WHAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS CAN HELP ME?
Smith, C. (2019-2020). The Cite Black Women Podcast [Audio podcast series]. Cite Black Women. This bi-weekly podcast features reflections and conversations about the politics and praxis of acknowledging and centering Black women’s ideas and intellectual contributions inside and outside of the academy through citation. Episodes feature conversations with Black women inside and outside of the academy who are actively engaged in radical citation as praxis, quotes and reflections on Black women's writing, and conversations on weathering the storm of citational politics in the academy, decolonizing syllabi and more. For more information about our project follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @citeblackwomen and access our website at citeblackwomencollective.org
Stylz, D., Mix, M., & LJ aka Jonathan. (2017-). Marsha's Plate: Black Trans Podcast [Audio podcast]. Diamondstylz.com. A Black trans Podcast. #MarshasPlate is a lively podcast where three friends come together every Thursday to share opinions and perspectives that centers the black perspective. Hosted By Diamond Stylz, Mia Mix, and LJ aka Jonathan. All Houston-based digital strategists, black feminists, civil right advocates, and black trans people. We explore topics of gender, current events, politics, and scumbags all around the world upholding systems of oppression from a black trans feminist lens. With our funny no-holds-barred style we introduce you to new perspectives, stories that connect you to transness, and trans community leaders around the country.
TED. Gender: A collection of TED Talks (and more) on the topic of Gender. A collection of TED Talks (and more) on the topic of Gender.

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Learn more about what OER are, how they relate to DEI, and why they're important here.

Morgan, K., Rodriguez, M. (2020). The American LGBTQ Rights Movement: An Introduction. Humboldt State University Press. The American LGBTQ Rights Movement: An Introduction is a peer-reviewed chronological survey of the LGBTQ fight for equal rights from the turn of the 20th century to the early 21st century. Illustrated with historical photographs, the book beautifully reveals the heroic people and key events that shaped the American LGBTQ rights movement. The book includes personal narratives to capture the lived experience from each era, as well as details of essential organizations, texts, and court cases that defined LGBTQ activism and advocacy.

Guides & Tools

APA. (n.d.). APA LGBTQ Resources and Publications. APA. APA has made a significant contribution to the understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people since first dedicating staff time to these populations in 1987. Over the years, APA has produced many resources to educate the public, support the work of psychologists and inform public policy about LGBTQ people and their lives and health needs. This page provides many of those resources, organized by the primary audiences for which they are intended.
APA. (n.d.). Key Terms and Concepts in Understanding Gender Diversity and Sexual Orientation Among Students. APA. This resource is part of a series of informational guides from Division 16 (School Psychology) and Division 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues) of the American Psychological Association. This series, “Promoting Resiliency for Gender Diverse and Sexual Minority Students in Schools,” sets out best practices for educators, school counselors, administrators and personnel, based on the latest research on the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, gender diverse, questioning and intersex students. The series includes topics such as gender diversity among students, helping to support families with LGBT children and youth, risk factors and resiliency factors within schools around health and wellbeing of LGBT youth, and basic facts about gender diversity and sexual orientation among children and youth.
Butler, A. (2020, October). Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ Youth: A Toolkit for Education, Healthcare, and Community-Based Organizations. Advocates for Youth. This Toolkit has been developed to assist individuals, community-based organizations, providers, healthcare staff, educators, and others that see the value of incorporating key safer space components into their organizations so that young people survive and thrive. Recommendations serve as a guide and should be tailored to each individual young person and organizational setting.
Collins, C. and Ehrenhalt, J. (n.d.). Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Students. Southern Poverty Law Center. With this guide, we hope to help school leaders ensure that all students feel safe, seen and capable of success; to ensure that the curriculum is as complete and representative as possible; to ensure that the school climate fosters open and respectful dialogue among all students and staff; and to prepare youth to engage and thrive within our diverse democracy.
GLAAD. (n.d.). Tips for Allies of Transgender People. GLAAD. Tips that can be used as you move toward becoming a better ally to transgender people. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and cannot include all the "right" things to do or say because often there is no one "right" answer to every situation you might encounter. When you become an ally of transgender people, your actions will help change the culture, making society a better, safer place for transgender people and for all people (trans or not) who do not conform to conventional gender expectations.
GLAAD. (n.d.). Transgender FAQ. GLAAD. Transgender FAQ
GLSEN. (n.d.). Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Classroom Resources [PDF]. GLSEN. One way that educators can promote safer school environments is by developing lessons that avoid bias and that include positive representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, history, and events. For LGBTQ students, attending a school with an inclusive curriculum is related to less-hostile school experiences and increased feelings of connectedness to the school community. Inclusive curriculum benefits all students by promoting diversity and teaching them about the myriad of identities in their communities.
GLSEN. (n.d.). Pronoun Form for Educators [PDF]. GLSEN. As you enter the new school year, you’ll probably be spending some time getting to know your students and learning their names. It’s important to ensure you’re calling all students by the name and pronouns they’re most comfortable with, even if they don’t align with the name and gender marker on the school roster. ... At the beginning of the semester, you may want to send out a form to make it easy to collect students’ names and pronouns and to address any safety issues or other concerns they may have. You can use the form below, create your own paper form, or create a digital form using a site like Google Forms. Once you have collected students’ information, you may want to meet one-on-one with certain students if they have specific concerns or safety considerations. Additionally, once you know the names students would like to be called in your classroom, update the roster for substitute teachers with the correct name for each individual.
Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.) Resources: Tools for Equality and Inclusion. Human Rights Campaign. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign is to ensure that every LGBTQ+ person is free to live their life openly, with their equal rights ensured. We know that goal requires that we keep educating, supporting and inspiring ourselves and each other. In the spirit of that continual growth, we’ve compiled information and advice on a range of topics, including resources from the HRC Foundation.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation. (n.d.). Free Online Learning Module: Promoting Emotional Well-Being for LGBTQ Youth. thehrcfoundation.org. HRC Foundation’s Youth Well-Being Program is excited to offer this FREE online learning module for social workers, counselors, educators and other youth-serving professionals. This self-paced course takes approximately one-hour to complete and participants can earn one free CE through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Promoting Emotional Well-Being for LGBTQ Youth provides an opportunity for youth-serving professionals to learn how to best promote safety, health, and well-being for LGBTQ youth at home, at school, and in systems of care.
National Center for Transgender Equality. (2023, January 27). Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life: A Guide to Being a Good Ally. transequality.org/ Learning to be an ally to the transgender people in your life, or to transgender people overall, is an ongoing process. Some ways to be a good ally are simple and easy, while others require more time, energy, and commitment. Whether you’re looking for information on supporting a transgender person in your life or helping to change the world to be better for transgender people overall, this guide can help.
National Education Association Center for Education Justice. (n.d.). Bostock and Student Rights. NEA edjustice. On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court announced that federal law prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ employees. Based on identical language protecting student rights, courts and the Department of Education agree that federal law prohibits schools that receive federal funding from discriminating against students on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. (Here) is a quick reference guide developed by NEA’s Center for Social Justice and General Counsel to help inform LGBTQ students about their rights.
Peppermint. (2022, February 17). Your Guide to Talking About Attacks on Trans Youth. ACLU. Watch ACLU’s Ambassador for Trans Justice, Miss Peppermint, and LGBTQ & HIV Project Staff Attorney Taylor Brown tell us the truth about trans youth and then check out these resources, so you know how to respond the next time you hear a lie about trans youth.
Porter, T. (n.d.). Five Questions for Men Who Want to Be Better Allies. A Call to Men. Five Questions for Men Who Want To Be Better Allies for women and marginalized voices.
Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). LGBTQ Best Practices: Classroom Culture and Curriculum [On-demand webinar]. Teaching Tolerance. Want to better support LGBTQ students in your classroom? Based on our brand-new Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Students, this webinar models how to create an inclusive classroom culture and build an intersectional curriculum that incorporates queer history and perspectives. Join us for our Facebook Live webinar teaser on Thursday, October 11th at 11:00am. You get a sneak preview of what to expect for the webinar.