Learning Objectives for LGBTQ+ module:

Understand the differences between sexual orientation, sex assignment, gender identity, and gender expression.
Understand the importance of affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ people, particularly people who also experience additional forms of marginalization.
Develop strategies to support staff in their direct work with the queer community.

Step 1: Read the Gender Bread Person: Breaking Through the Binary from the Safe Zone Project.

Breaking through the Binary - by Sam Killermann (genderbread.org)

Step 2: Read A Woman for Her Time (Note: The author of this piece uses a significant amount of reclaimed language, which may be uncomfortable for some readers.). This is a piece written about Sylvia Rivera, a trans woman of color who helped to start the Gay Rights Movement and threw one of the first bottles during the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. This is considered the start of this political movement. Following Stonewall, though, Sylvia and other trans women of color who started the movement were left out of the Gay Right Movement for fear that their participation would limit the acceptance of the white gays and lesbians who held most of the power at that time. Her story is important because of her constant fight for equity for the queer community and within the queer community. Her work was intersectional long before this term existed.

A Woman for Her Time - The Village Voice

Step 3: Watch Y’all Better Quiet Down. This is Sylvia Rivera’s speech given at the 1973 Christopher Street Liberation Day (which later became the Pride celebrations we have today). She was barred entry to the parade and initially they refused to let her speak because of her gender identity. She ended up physically fighting her way to the stage to have her voice heard and gave this impassioned speech on helping ALL members of the community and specifically who she felt was being left out. Later in her life, she would refer to this as the worst day of her life.

L020A Sylvia Rivera, “Y’all Better Quiet Down” Original Authorized Video, 1973 Gay Pride Rally NYC - YouTube

Step 4: Read the LGBTQ+ Youth Commission Report, The Introduction and Executive Summary (pgs. 1-9).

*If you have time to read it all, I would HIGHLY recommend it. This report was issued about our agency, it’s failings and some suggestions of what we can do differently.*

LGBTQ Youth in the Massachusetts Child Welfare System

Step 5: Watch Cultural Competence and LGBTQ+ Kids.

Cultural Competence and LGBTQ Kids - Bing video

Step 6: Do discussion Post

Step 7: Read case study for in-class work. The following definition may be important to best understanding the case study:

Polyamory (noun) - the practice or condition of participating simultaneously in more than one serious romantic or sexual relationship with the knowledge and consent of all partners.