I have been having conversations lately about person-first language vs. identity-first language. I have come to realize there is no clear answer or guidance. Like all work related to identity — it’s all about taking the lead from members of the community. Check out the link below -- this is a great article and has help frame my thinking.

This document remains one of my all-time favorites to share with educators. I feel is important for all adults to feel they have their go-to response when children have questions about gender. For me, I often feel like the simplest response is the best. I tend to use, "because that what make them happy". Check out this great resource below from Gender Spectrum - it is chockfull of great language.  

Here is a direct link to the applications: 

​Below are a bunch of photographs from the 2018 GSA Student Leadership Summit. Check them out!  

Ya'll, this is how to use your power and your platform to send a strong message of love and support.   Thank you Don Cheadle!  This is beautiful. 

For the past 20 years, on World AIDS Day, I have always stopped by the Boston Center for the Arts to spend a bit of time in the Medicine Wheel. The “Medicine Wheel,” is a 24-hour vigil with a major sculptural art installation rooted in the Celtic Medicine Wheel. The space uses the universal symbol of the circle as gathering spot for individuals to come together to  heal, reflect and remember. For me, taking time of silent contemplation, prayer and reflection is important. This day is about supporting people I love who are HIV positive and remembering the many people we have lost. 

I often think about how we reflect the true diversity of the people in our schools and communities. Recently, I was talking with a student about the how LGBTQ folks are increasingly being represented in on TV and in the media. I made some quick remark about increased visibility being beneficial to us all. Without hesitation the student said, "famous people do not represent my experience as a young person in this city". The student went on to explain that these individuals are typically wealthy, white and popular. In addition, famous people have access to designers, surgeons and a host of other supports that help them project the image they what the public to see.  This student told me that they need to see young people, students of color, and lot more nonbinary representations of gender. 

I want to share a few examples of how we can create greater visibility in our schools and communities for people who are often underrepresented. This is a small collection of images that will work in middle and high schools. I am doing a little digging to find ways this can be done similarly within elementary schools.

​Stay tuned...

Click here to access the FAQ developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the nonbinary gender marker. 

I am so excited to share these with the world.  I have been thinking a lot these days about how to be more active - specifically as it relates to supporting the transgender and gender nonconforming people who I love and who are part of our schools, communities, state, country and world.  I realized that we need to be more overt when it comes to letting people know they are welcome and loved.   

I approached my friend Quinn to be a co-conspirator on this project. Quinn excitedly agreed. Together, we developed a series of welcome signs for schools to use.

I hope people use these signs. Our LGBTQ students and families need to see them. In my opinion, we need to be more visible in our support and love.