How to use this toolkit
- Read about the importance of supporting and protecting LGBTQ+ students, take action, and get involved with the movement
- Find art to help you communicate your opinions and express your emotions
- Learn how to talk about this issue effectively and respectfully, particularly with those who think differently
- Explore resources to help you learn more about LGBTQ+ issues
Stand Against Hate and Bias
CONTEXT
We all deserve the right to live, work, and thrive no matter our sexual orientation or gender identities—no exceptions. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms and divide us, so they can get and hold onto power at any cost—even if that means denying us the basic rights, resources, and respect that we all deserve.
Educators, parents, students, and communities are uniting across race, genders, and place to demand safe and affirming schools where all our students can learn, grow, and thrive.
Now is our time to demand the fully resourced and supportive schools all our families need, and to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are free to be their authentic selves and pursue their dreams.
Please use the guidance in this toolkit freely and as you see fit! Share it with your colleagues and community, so we can all work together in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. We're absolute believers that if our words don't spread, they don't work and as such we are honored to have you use this language verbatim.
Narratives
Narratives
6 Key Narratives
Whether we are Black, white or brown, Native or newcomer, transgender or not, we want the freedom to be ourselves. But some people try to get and hold onto power by putting us in boxes based on what we look like, where we’re from, or our genders. We see this in how schools tell Black kids how to keep their hair or send girls home for the clothes they wear. And in how certain politicians exploit lack of familiarity with transgender people, excluding trans kids from healthcare, school, or sports. They stoke fear so we turn against some group instead of demanding what our families need. By joining together, we can make this a place where we are all free to thrive and support each other for who we are.
Educators want to provide every student with an accurate and quality education. But some politicians are pushing laws that restrict some kids' freedom to learn, excluding them from healthcare, school, and sports.
Politicians fuel divisions among parents by pushing laws that erase our history, from Selma to Stonewall. We are not fooled by their cruel and politically motivated tactics and will continue to join parents, students, and educators to make public schools places where we are all free to thrive and support each other for who we are.
Politicians are exploiting lack of familiarity with transgender students to distract us from their failures to deliver for our families and communities. We must work together to force elected officials to address the real issues facing public schools, like solving the teacher shortage, fixing teacher pay, and providing all students with the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
Across our races, backgrounds and genders, we want to be treated with dignity and respect. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms because of the color of our skin, what’s in our wallets, or because we are transgender. They exploit divisions and fears among us so they can get and hold onto power, denying us the basic rights, resources, and respect all people deserve. By [rejecting this division/passing protections against discrimination], we can ensure each one of us has the freedom to be ourselves, pursue our dreams, and have a good life — no exceptions.
Young people across time, race, and movements for equality have always helped lead the way. But now as before, certain politicians are trying to get and hold onto power by silencing young people — stoking fear against Black and brown kids leading protests for racial justice, and taking advantage of unfamiliarity with transgender people to punish students for being their authentic selves. Whenever a powerful few have tried to pick and choose who counts, there have always been those of us who showed up for each other and built welcoming communities. Now it’s our time to show up, reject division, and chart a better future for all of us, no matter our ages, races, or genders.
Message Guidance
Creating Welcoming and Empowering Schools
Creating Welcoming and Empowering Schools
NEA LGBTQ+ Trainings
Creating an Inclusive Space
A Guide to Pronouns
2024 Back to School Checklist
LBGTQ+ Book Recommendations
Get a Free Set of LGBTQ+ Books
Making Gay History Lesson Plans
Trevor Project: LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources
The Growing Need for Single-Use Restrooms
Your Rights and Protections
Update on Title IX Rules
Title IX, the statute prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, is the law of the land. The Department of Education is tasked with issuing regulations to effectuate this law. On January 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued a decision vacating the Biden Administration’s2024 Title IX regulations. While the 2024 Rule had already been temporarily enjoined in 26 states, this decision is the first final ruling on the merits, effectively vacating the rule nationwide and reinstating the 2020 Rule issued by the Trump Administration. It is important to note that LGBTQI+ students are protected under Title IX, and the 2020 Rule that is now in effect is clear about this:
"These final regulations focus on prohibited conduct, irrespective of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. . . . These final regulations include sexual harassment as unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies a person equal educational access; this includes but is not limited to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and may consist of unwelcome conduct based on sex or sex stereotyping. The Department will not tolerate sexual harassment as defined in [the regulation] against any student, including LGBTQ students." 85 FR 30026, 30179 (2020).
Transgender Awareness and Support
Transgender Awareness and Support
International Transgender Day of Visibility and Coming Out Day
Trans Action Kit
Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Youth and the Freedom To Be Ourselves
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws and Legislation
Art to Share
Art to Share
Watch This
From Our Partners
From Our Partners
National Black Justice Coalition
The Trevor Project
GLSEN
Human Rights Campaign
NQAPIA
Lambda Legal
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