This semester, a few Writing Program faculty and staff members attended the Safe Space Allies training led by USD’s LGBTQ+ and Allies Commons. During this training session, attendees learned various gender affirming strategies that can be utilized to support and care for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students.
Here are eight gender affirming strategies that you can implement in your classroom. This list was developed by the LGBTQ+ and Allies Commons. You can find more specific details about each of these strategies on their webpage linked here.
- Share and list your pronouns
- Use gender inclusive language
- Interrupt microaggressions and harmful language/behavior
- Zoom considerations
- Know the policies, resources, and services on campus for gender diverse students
- Follow university guidelines for designing gender inclusive forms
- Include a statement on your syllabi
- Use people’s correct name (see guide attached here to learn how you can pull an accurate roster from Blackboard).
If you’d like to learn more about allyship or attend a future Safe Space Allies training, visit the LGBTQ+ and Allies Commons website for more information and resources.