FACTS ABOUT TRANSITIONS
LGBTQ is a colloquial abbreviation representing members of a community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and/or questioning.
Transgender (TG) is an umbrella term for individuals who believe their gender or gender expression diverges from the gender they were assigned at birth while Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) refers to people who do not adhere to society's rules about dress and activities for people based on one's assigned gender.
LGBTQ students who are able to identify a supportive staff member at their campus academical outperforms who could not.
Social norms regarding gender and sex add to the difficulty of transitioning, questioning and asserting one's identity and may foster feelings of shame, guilt or self-loathing.
TG students are often the victims of harassment, assault, bullying and other forms of violence on campus. School personnel are less likely to intervene with these forms of violence.
TG an GNC students may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, etc.
In 2010, the Center for Collegiate Mental Health demonstrates that transgender students were twice as likely to engage in self-harming behaviors and three times more likely to engage in serious suicidal behaviors.
SIGNS THAT A STUDENT MAY BE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME
Student displays a change in behavior or affect such as withdrawing, sadness, anger, etc.
Student displays a decline in hygiene and personal care.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Maintain neutral use of identifiers. Ask about preferred name ad other preferred identifiers.
Inquire about support networks.
cognize boundaries of competence while remaining a supportive party.
Ask for clarification or permission to discuss further. Maintain rapport as much as possible.
Refer students to intercultural Affairs to offer additional forms of support.
Refer student to Counseling and Psychological Services. Note there are some specialized services such as Rainbow Room, Gender Variant Services and other means of support if student exhibits a need or if there is a request for counseling services.
HARMFUL INTERACTIONS
Associate all issues and concerns that student has to their sexual or gender identify.
Avoid student's discussion of sexuality or gender issues.
Do not present being LGBTQ as a "lifestyle" or phase.
Advocate for normative expressions of sexuality and gender. Avoid expressing personal biases.
Using terms/identifiers and others descriptors different than student's language.