Did you know that it is best to talk about all types of diversity in early childhood? Kids’ brains are the most expansive during these early years of development! The more kids are exposed to and directly guided by adults to learn and understand diversity the more pieces of human expression and experience their minds will hold as they grow!

To support gender diversity at school, it’s important to help all students navigate their questions around gender. These discussions around gender not only help children to understand their own and others’ genders better, but they also build confidence, self-efficacy, and empathy, as well as combatting gender bias as they grow up.

Talking about gender diversity in the classroom for all students also helps to increase the internal sense of safety and support for transgender and nonbinary students without singling them out.

Check out some of these great resources above to help support discussions around gender diversity at school. It may feel like there is more pushback than ever when it comes to being able to have these discussions in the classroom, but as long as you are a part of a school district where you can do so, they are worth having!

The new school year can be daunting, especially for TGNB students, and ensuring they have support in place, without making them feel “singled out,” is vital to helping them feel safe and enjoy their time in school.

We know that by the time kids are 5 they are beginning to show the same gender biases that adults have. Kids begin viewing certain genders and gender expressions as having more positive value than others. They are also beginning to apply these views to themselves.

Children who learn about gender diversity early on will experience more comfort with gender differences in themselves and others, and also experience less gender bias as they grow older. The more kids are exposed to and directly guided by adults to learn and understand diversity the more pieces of human expression and experience their minds will hold as they grow! Understanding and support for gender diversity helps all children, cisgender, transgender, and gender nonbinary alike!

Above are just a few ways to support gender diversity at school and in the classroom. Check out the resource on Supporting Gender Diversity in Early Childhood Learners at the link in my bio to read more!

Disability Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the diverse disability community, as well as recognize that disabled people continue to be marginalized and many barriers still exist. It’s important to honor all kinds of disabilities and work with the disabled community leaders, activists, and members to understand the ways in which to best support their goals and combat ableism.

Door by Door: How Sarah McBride Became America`s First Openly Transgender Senator, written by Meeg Pincus and illustrated by Meridth McKean Gimbel, is the inspiring biography of a woman who yearned to help her community and those around her growing up and did just that when she became the highest-ranking openly transgender political official in the U.S. The story parallels the journey of Sarah`s interest in politics alongside her personal gender journey. Gimbel`s illustrations are a wonderful depiction of Sarah`s life and Pincus’ writing takes readers on parallel journeys of Sarah`s inner life around her gender and her political passion and ventures and the eventual integration of both these parts of herself. An inspirational figure for trans and cis children alike, encouraging everyone to embrace their true selves and follow their dreams, this picture book is great for ages 4-8 (though could surely be enjoyed by those younger or older). The book also includes a note at the end from Senator McBride herself, as well as a list of ways that cisgender people can be trans allies.

It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and scared with all the news lately, and though there continues to be alarming rulings and laws put into place, it’s not all bad news. Even though sometimes it may feel like progress is going backward, there are still victories to be celebrated and news that gives us hope that we can and will fight against these oppressive laws.

In addition to those resources mentioned above, you can always look into local/state organizations that are fighting against anti-trans legislation to see what support they need or what actions they are taking, especially in those states that are having ongoing legal battles.

A spotlight on a few national and local youth-led organizations!

Pride Month may have come to an end, but it’s crucial to continue to support TGNB youth all year round, and these youth-led organizations are doing just that. These organizations are led by youth (many by TGNB youth!) who are working to make the world a better, safer place for them and their peers, ensuring that their voices are heard in the process. Youth are a vital part of our communities and it’s essential to support organizations that center their experiences!

The We Are Little Feminists series of board books from @littlefeministbookclub is unlike any other I`ve encountered! I purchased the box set for my little one and was so impressed. This particular box set includes: Families, Hair, On-The-Go, How We Eat and Celebrations, all of which showcase a vast diverse representation of real families and children. Developmentally, when it comes to schema formation and raising inclusive, anti-bias little ones (who will then grow up into adults with much less bias), these are a game changer! They really represent the diverse world we live in, featuring actual pictures of diverse bodies, families, and cultures. The books are aimed at ages 0-5 and come with a question guide to help adults discuss diversity with children. According to the Little Feminist’s website, “only 13% of children’s books represent our diverse world” and thus identity-affirming board books like theirs are a must. You can read about their mission and check out these books and others at: littlefeminist.com

I’ve posted before about ways to support TGNB youth and wanted to share some additional, visible ways to show TGNB youth in your life and your community that you support them, during Pride Month and beyond!

Not only is it vital to support TGNB youth in your life by respecting and validating their gender identity, advocating for them, and providing them with essential resources, but it can also be indispensable for that support to extend beyond them. This shows TGNB youth you may not personally know that you support them, and also normalizes support for TGNB youth for the non-trans folks in your community.

It cannot be overstated the importance of community in these trying times. These are just a few examples of how the TGNB community has banned together during this current bout of anti-trans sentiment, as well as some of the trans activists and leaders who help to uplift the community and pave the way for ensuring rights. Despite everything, the anti-trans movement has done to try and quell the community, trans folks are still here, and will always be here. During Pride Month and always, if you’re an ally of the TGNB community, it’s important to elevate trans voices as much as possible and defer to those in the community to understand how to best stand up for and defend trans folks.

The gender dysphoria that those in the TGNB community may experience can be extremely detrimental to their mental health, compounding the stress they feel and affecting their ability to function in their daily lives. Having access to gender-affirming care is vital to those experiencing gender dysphoria. This care can range from social affirmation to surgical affirmation, and anything in between, but most importantly it should reflect what the individual person needs.

It is important to note that although gender dysphoria can affect mental health, it should not be seen as a mental health disorder. I, like many, believe it is unnecessarily included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and that, if medical treatment is necessitated, it might fall within medical categories such as sexual health. Additionally mental health treatment may be needed but the symptoms themselves (i.e. anxiety, depression, adjustment) could be named and treated without "gender" needing to be named or mobilized within the actual diagnosis.

For those experiencing gender dysphoria there are organizations dedicated to providing community resources, like peer support groups, as well as healthcare professionals who can work with an individual to figure out what sort of affirmative care they need in order to lessen their experience of gender dysphoria.

It has been such a treat to be working with Dr. Erin Norton in providing the Getty Education Department with ongoing consultation on gender diversity. They do amazing work serving up to 100k students a year! We had such a blast being on-site at the Getty Center and Getty Villla with their docents this week! 🌈🌿🏛🏺#inclusiveeducation #transyouth #genderdiversity

Minorities, like TGNB youth, experience a unique type of stress due to discrimination and rejection, as well as through heterosexist/cisgender-normative laws and policies. However, TGNB folks often develop coping mechanisms that provide them with more resilience than those who do not face the same sort of stress due to minority status. Providing youth with community resources, access to gender-affirming care, and acceptance can all help to reinforce and strengthen this resilience.

As we continue with Mental Health Awareness Month, one of the most important elements for the well-being of TGNB youth is parental support. Having an affirming home environment can make a world of difference in the mental health of TGNB youth.

Discussions of mental health in the trans community and for trans youth are often associated with statistics related to higher rates of depression and suicidality, however, having support at home can help to alleviate this. For TGNB youth, being validated in their identity and knowing they have support to find gender-affirming care, to socially transition, or with anything else they may need on their journey is vital for their mental health.

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! All month I will focus on different aspects of mental health for TGNB youth, starting with how to find a trans-affirming therapist.

Finding a trans-affirming therapist may seem like a daunting task, but luckily there are a lot of resources out there to help guide you to finding the right fit for you/your child! Swipe through to see how to get started, as well as helpful directories to search (though this isn’t an exhaustive list, if these directories don’t yield the results you’re looking for, don’t give up! The right therapist is out there), and articles that can help guide you, which include helpful questions to ask that can determine if a therapist is the right fit beyond just being trans-affirming.

Additionally, you can always look into any local LGBTQ+ organizations that may be in your area for referrals for trans-affirming therapists near you.

For educators, there are plenty of ways to show support for TGNB students and these resources are a great way to gain the knowledge and tools that are necessary in order to create an environment where TGNB youth can feel safe going to school. These organizations not only provide a variety of helpful resources, but also offer professional development opportunities, for teachers, school administrators, and other youth-serving professionals who want to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment at their schools for TGNB youth (as always, all resources are also linked in my bio)!

It’s always nice to read some good news for a change! These states join California and Massachusetts in providing a safe haven for trans folks, as they have each passed their own laws in 2023 that protect the trans community and access to gender-affirming care, including protections for those who seek gender-affirming care from states where it is restricted or criminalized. Hopefully, we will see more states follow suit in 2023, as we continue to fight back against the many proposed bills that would restrict access to necessary and life-saving care for the TGNB community.

Here are a few books I have found helpful in my practice working with TGNB youth, during conversations around puberty and sexuality! These books could be for any child, but the inclusive language is especially helpful for children who are transgender, gender non-binary, or gender creative.

Each book is also noted with the age range it is generally best for, but each child is on their own path, so keep in mind their individual needs when considering which book(s) may be best for your child.

Please note that although these books seek to be more broadly inclusive with language and identities, they still focus predominantly on endogenous puberty paths and don`t discuss in detail some of the puberty paths for TGNB youth (e.g. undergoing puberty suppression and/or taking cross-sex hormones).

Today and every day is an opportunity to celebrate trans and non-binary youth! Swipe through to see some actions you can take on Transgender Day of Visibility this Friday, March 31st, to honor TGNB youth.

Transgender Day of Visibility was created in 2010 by trans advocate and psychotherapist Rachel Crandall, in response to the majority of media stories about transgender people being focused on violence. Crandall wanted to celebrate transgender joy and empower trans folks to live authentically, while still acknowledging that not every trans person can or wants to be visible.

For allies, TDOV is a strong reminder of our role in ensuring that trans visibility is defended and protected. This year has made this even more clear. Participating in TDOV events is a great way to show up for and celebrate TGNB youth. Also included are some ways to continue to fight for the protection of TGNB visibility! (Links are also in my bio)

The finalists were recently released for the 2023 Lambda Literary Awards, the annual awards which celebrate LGBTQ+ literature. Learn a little more about these children’s books that made the list, and be sure to check them out if you haven’t already! You can also see the finalists in all 25 categories at: https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/current-finalists/