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LGBTQIA+ Information

Resources for Students Who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual +

 

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EDUCATION // QUESTIONING // ALLIES // RESOURCES // FOR PARENTS // EVENTS

 

Mission Statement:

“Our mission is to work towards a more accepting environment for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity through education, support, social action, and advocacy. We believe that schools can be truly safe ONLY when every student is assured of access to an education without fear of harassment or violence.”

 

Q & A:

A confidential forum for asking questions about LGBTQIA+  information in the Stamford Public Schools community...

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvK8-nq4xQDwaS-N-acLCGGMykGMm7...

 

Blog:

 

Contact:

For general questions about our website, you can reach out to SPS District Coordinator, Christine Bisceglie at AITE guidance: cbisceglie@stamfordct.gov

 

EDUCATION

Remember: all these terms exist on a spectrum

GENDER ≠ SEX

PRONOUNS ≠ GENDER

EXPRESSION ≠ GENDER

Some terms to know:

  • LGBTQIAP+ → The umbrella acronym for the queer community, including: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Androgynous/Allies, Pansexual/Polyamorous, and more!  
  • Heterosexual (straight) - an individual who is attracted to the opposite gender
  • Homosexual (gay / lesbian) - an individual who is attracted to the same gender
  • Bisexual / Pansexual / Polysexual - an individual who is attracted to multiple genders
  • Asexual / Aromantic - an individual who experiences detachment from sexual or romantic attraction, respectively
  • Cisgender: An individual whose gender corresponds with their assigned sex at birth (ASAB)
  • Transgender: An individual whose gender does not correspond with their assigned sex at birth (ASAB)
  • FTM: individual whose ASAB is female, but identifies as a male
  • MTF: individual whose ASAB is male, but identifies as a female
  • Nonbinary/Genderqueer: An umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively male or female —‌ identities which are outside the gender binary and cisnormativity. Genderqueer individuals may express a combination of masculinity and femininity, or neither, in their gender expression.
  • See more at: https://lgbtrc.usc.edu/education/terminology/

Sourced from: GenderBread.org; LGBT Research Center at the University of Southern California

QUEER & QUESTIONING

Q & A:

A confidential forum for asking questions about LGBTQIA+ information in the Stamford Public Schools community...

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvK8-nq4xQDwaS-N-acLCGGMykGMm7...

 

Sourced from: AITE GSA

ALLIES

How to make your school a safe space

Understand the Law

  • State law in CT explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
  • State law in CT bans the use of conversion therapy across the entire state
  • There are many protections for LGBT couples, employees, youth, and communities in CT
  • This is not true in all states
  • bathroom policy: students have the right to use the bathroom of their preference if they consistently and persistently identify with that gender
  • discrimination policy: there is zero tolerance for discrimination in school

If you experience or witness homophobia:

  • STAY CALM: responding to violence with violence makes things worse
  • REPORT IT: being silent makes you part of the problem; this goes for adults too
  • LOVE YOURSELF: letting words make you doubt yourself or your identity isn’t okay

Remember:

  • it is INVASIVE and UNCOMFORTABLE to ask for someone’s gender identity, sexual orientation or biological sex. However, it is okay to ask for PRONOUNS
  • whether or not you agree with someone as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, always be respectful of their identity
    • Respect their pronouns
    • Respect their existence

Sourced from: AITE GSA

RESOURCES

Resources in the community

  • At AITE
    • School Counseling Department
    • Mary / Mrs. H - school social worker
    • Teen Talk counselor
    • School-based Health Center
    • Gender Sexuality  Alliance (GSA) - meets after school Thursdays in Guidance( on Google Meet ) , contact Kim Smith, ksmith@stamfordct.gov
  • At Westhill
    • GSA: contact Emily Handy, ehandy@stamfordct.gov
    • School-based Health Center
    • School Counseling Department
  • At Stamford High
    • GSA: contact Emily Segal, esegal@stamfordct.gov
    • School-based Health Center
    • School Counseling  Department
  • In Stamford-Norwalk-Bridgeport-CT Area
    • The Lighthouse -  AVON THEATER (Stamford) Meets every Wednesday, 7-9 PM
    • LGBTQIAP+ Support Group - Triangle Community Center (Norwalk)
    • Transgender and Gender Questioning Youth Forum - Triangle Community Center (Norwalk)
    • LGBTQ Youth Empowerment & Social Group - The Center for Family Justice (Bridgeport)
    • The Loft (Westchester)
    • True Colors: Largest youth LGBTQ Conference in the country. Held in March UCONN Storrs.

National Resources

Scholarships

Hotlines- Anonomyous 

  • https://www.211ct.org/, 2-1-1
  • The Trevor Project Lifeline, (866) 488 7386
  • Trans Lifeline, (877) 565 8860
  • Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence - English: (888) 774 2900, Español: (844) 831 9200

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

Local:

  • The Gender Sexuality Alliance is a club with branches at all three high schools in Stamford, which hosts educational events throughout the middle and high schools (and also manages this website).  For more information about LGBTQIA+ in the Stamford Public Schools, you can reach out to your child’s guidance department, or contact the GSA heads:
  • PFLAG, or Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, is a national group with local chapters for the families of LGBTQIA+ people.
  • Triangle Community Center (Norwalk)
  • The Center for Family Justice (Bridgeport)
  • The Loft (Westchester)

Additional Resources:

Recursos en español por los padres:

EVENTS

There are no events at this time. Please see our calendar for past events.