Questions and Answers: Sexual Orientation in Schools – Additional resources
Additional Resources
The opinions expressed in these resources are those of the authors/organizations and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Note: Before using these resources with students, it is advisable to preview them as some may contain sensitive content and may not be appropriate for all ages.
I. Organizations
Alberta Government's Office for the Prevention of Family Violence and Bullying
Homophobic Bullying
Resources for Youth
Resources for Parents/caregivers
Government of Alberta
PO Box 1333
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N2
Tel: (780) 427-2711
Fax: (780) 422-2852
Alberta Teachers’ Association
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Issues in Education, Diversity, Equity & Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Edmonton Office (Barnett House)
11010 142 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1
Tel: (780) 447-9400
Toll free: 1-800-232-7208
Fax: (780) 455-6481
Calgary Office (SARO)
3016 5 Avenue NE Suite 106
Calgary, Alberta T2A 6K4
Tel: (403) 265-2672
Toll free: 1-800-332-1280
Fax: (403) 266-6190
This website has been designed to assist educators in their legal, professional and ethical responsibilities to protect all students and to maintain a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment. Addressing homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism is an important part of that obligation. This website provides Alberta teachers with information, contacts and resources that can assist them in creating safe, caring and inclusive learning environments for LGBTQ students, staff and same-gender parented families.
C.P. 476, succursale C,
Montréal, QC H2L 4K4
Tel : (514) 846-1398
Email : info@alterheros.com
AlterHéros is a non-profit organization that serves gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. The organization disseminates information to youth, parents, family and friends; provides aid and support to youth; and creates a mutual support network for youth where they can share experiences and connect with others.
British Columbia Teachers’ Federation
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Issues in Schools
Issues and LGBTQ Issues in Schools
100 - 550 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4P2
Tel: (604) 871-2283
Toll free: 1-800-663-9163
The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation has created the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) Action Group to help support you in your work as teachers or social justice activists. One of our immediate goals is to improve access to resources on LGBTQ issues for teachers. Another goal is to provide support for rural and isolated locales. We have developed a comprehensive action plan with actions and timelines over a multi-year period.
Calgary Health Region (Alberta Health Services)
Alberta Health Services Corporate Office
700 Manulife Place
10180 - 101 St.
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3S4
Tel: (780) 342-2000
Toll free: 1-888-342-2471
Fax: (780) 342-2060
An innovative website developed by Alberta educators and health professionals to help achieve excellence in teaching sexual health.
Canadian Federation for Sexual Health
2197 Riverside Drive, Suite 403
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 7X3
Tel: (613) 241-4474
Fax: (613) 241-7550
Email: admin@cfsh.ca
Suite 320, 1202 Centre Street S.E.
Calgary, Alberta T2G 5A5
Tel: (403) 245-3900
Fax: (403) 245-0299
Email: csp@suicideinfo.ca
The Centre for Suicide Prevention(CSP) is an education centre specializing in curriculum development; training programs; library and information services. The purpose of the Centre is to inform and equip people with additional knowledge and skills in the prevention of suicide.
EgaleCanada
Tel: (613) 230-1043
Toll Free: 1-888-204-7777
Fax: (416) 642-6435
Email: egale.canada@egale.ca
Egale Canada is a national organization committed to advancing equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, and their families, across Canada.
Elementary Teachers’ Federation ofOntario
Challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism
(Click on Social Justice and Equity)
480 University Avenue, Suite 1000
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V2
Tel: (416) 962-3836
Toll Free: 1-888-838-3836
Fax: (416) 642-2424
Part of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s mission is the education, stimulation, and transformation of provincial and local organizations to be responsive to the diverse needs of the membership, and to be a positive influence for change at a societal level. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario strives to reflect diversity in all aspects of its operations.
C.P. 1006, succursale C
Montréal, QC H2L 4V2
Tel : (514) 866-6788
Fax : (514) 866-8157
Email : courrier@fondationemergence.org
Fondation Émergence works to fight prejudice against sexual minorities through educational campaigns and research, dissemination of educational material to the public, and financial support to organizations providing services to sexual minorities.
C.P. 1006, succursale C
Montréal, QC H2L 4V2
Tel : 1-888-505-1010 or (514) 866-0103 or *1010 for Telus customers
Fax: (514) 866-8157
Email: aide@gaiecoute.org
Gai Écoute offers confidential, anonymous, and free services to those with questions about sexual orientation. Gai Écoute is committed to fighting feelings of isolation, solitude and invisibility among gay and lesbian youth. They provide telephone support with trained support staff; dissemination of printed materials; email support; and one-on-one chats. Gai Écoute also offers suicide prevention support.
Gender Identity Research and Education Society
Melverley
The Warren
Ashtead
Surrey, United Kingdom
KT21 2SP
Tel: 01372 801554
Email: info@gires.org.uk
The focus GIRES is on people who experience atypical gender identity development, especially trans people, whether or not they are also affected by lesbian, gay, bisexual or intersex issues.
GRIS-Montréal
204-2075 rue Plessis
Montréal, QC H2L 4K4
Tel : (514) 590-0016
Fax : (514) 590-0764
Email : info@gris.ca
GRIS-Montreal (Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention Sociale ) is a non-profit organization who aims to create a better awareness of homosexuality and issues faced by gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals. GRIS-Montreal focuses most of its actions in the school system. Some of their work includes providing workshops on homosexuality to schools and other institutions or organizations in the Greater Montreal Area.
Other locations:
253, Route 108
Beauceville, QC G5X 2Z3
Tel : (418) 774-4210
Fax : (418) 948-9154
Email : infogrisca@gmail.com
201-363, rue de la Couronne
Québec, QC G1K 6E9
Tel : (418) 523-5572
Email : info@grisquebec.org
1633 Mountain Road, Box 29211
Moncton, New Brunswick E1G 4R3
Tel: (506) 869-8191
Toll Free: 1-888-530-6777 (English)
Toll Free French Support Line: 1-888-530-6483
Fax: (506) 387-8349
Email: execdirector@pflagcanada.ca
PFLAG Canada is a national organization that helps all Canadians who are struggling with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. PFLAG Canada supports, educates and provides resources to parents, families, friends and colleagues with questions or concerns.
307-2075 rue Plessis
Montréal, QC H2L 2Y4
Tel : (514) 989-4585
Email : projet10@p10.gc.ca
Projet 10 works to promote the personal, social, sexual and mental wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersex and questioning youth and adults aged 14-25 years, living in the greater Montréal area. They offer a phone line for peer support, crisis counselling, information and referrals to LGBITTQ services; individual counselling sessions for youths and/or their families to discuss issues related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity; accompaniment services (e.g., to doctor’s appointments, HIV testing, social assistance offices, interviews for cooperative housing, court appearances); drop-in, facilitated group sessions; social assistance in finding affordable housing, employment, changing name and sex designation on official identity papers, accessing sex-change surgery, immigration/refugee status, filing legal complaints; educational workshops for youth, teachers, and health and social service workers who interact with youth of diverse sexual and/or gender identities; and establishing a Trans Health Database of physicians, therapists, and other health care professionals who are equipped to work with trans individuals in an open and non-judgmental way.
Public Health Agency of Canada
Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections
Community Acquired Infections Division
Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control
100 Eglantine Driveway, Health Canada Building
A.L. 0602C, Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Fax: (613) 957-0381
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
780 Echo Drive,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5R7
Tel: (613) 730-4192
Toll free: 1-800-561-2416
Fax: (613) 730-4314
Email: helpdesk@sogc.com
Sexuality and U is committed to providing credible and up-to-date information and education on sexual health.
2345 rue Bélanger
Montréal, QC H2G 1C9
Tel: (514) 723-4000 or 1-866-277-3553 elswhere in Québec
II. Programs
American Library Association
Rainbow Project
The Rainbow Project is a joint project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. The Rainbow Project presents an annual bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content, which are recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age.
Camp fYrefly
7-104 Education North
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G5
Tel: (780) 492-0772
Fax: (780) 492-2024
Email: fyrefly@ualberta.ca
Camp fYrefly is an educational, social, and personal learning retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, queer, and allied (LGBTTQ&A) youth. It focuses on building and nurturing their leadership potential and personal resiliency in an effort to help them learn how to make significant contributions to their own lives and to their schools, home/group-home environments, and communities. The camp is designed for LGBTTQ&A youth between the ages of 14 and 24.
Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services
7-104 Education North
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G5
Tel: (780) 492-0772
Fax: (780) 492-2024
Email: iSMSS@ualberta.ca
The Institute's mission is to help enhance possibilities for groundbreaking research, policy development, education, community outreach, and service provision focused on sexual minorities and their issues and concerns.
Mental Health America
What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk with Kids
About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice.
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22311
Tel: (703) 684-7722
Toll free: 1-800-969-6642
Fax: (703) 684-5968
Email: infoctr@mentalhealthamerica.net
What Does Gay Mean? is a new anti-bullying program designed to improve understanding and respect for youth who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT). Centered on an educational booklet, called “What Does Gay Mean?” How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice, the program encourages parents and others to communicate and share values of respect with their children.
Rainbow Resource Centre
170 Scott Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0L3
Tel: (204) 474-0212
Fax: (204) 478-1160
Email: info@rainbowresourcecentre.org
The Rainbow Resource Centre is a not-for-profit community organization that provides support and resources to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and two-spirit communities of Manitoba and North Western Ontario.
Supporting our Youth
333 Sherbourne Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5A 2S5
Tel: (416) 324-5077
Fax: (416) 324-4188
Email: soy@sherbourne.on.ca
Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an exciting, dynamic community development project designed to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgendered youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities. It works to create healthy arts, culture and recreational spaces for young people; to provide supportive housing and employment opportunities; and to increase youth access to adult mentoring and support.
III. Non-fiction books
Canadian Federation for Sexual Health. (2002). Finding Our Way: A Sexual and Reproductive Health Sourcebook for Aboriginal Communities. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.
“Finding Our Way is the first comprehensive Canadian resource on sexual and reproductive health within an Aboriginal cultural context. This 335-page Sourcebook includes up-to-date information, teaching resources, program models, and personal stories on sexual and reproductive health issues as defined by Aboriginal peoples. It was co-produced by the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada and the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.”Footnote 50
Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC. (2004).
Challenging Homophobia in School (2nd Edition).Vancouver, BC: GALE BC.
“A K to 12 resource for educators, counsellors and administrators to aid in the support of, and education about, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender youth and families.”Footnote 51
Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC. (2004).
Creating and Supporting a Gay/Straight Alliance (2nd Edition). Vancouver, BC: GALE BC.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. (2006). Guidelines for care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. San Francisco, CA: Gayand Lesbian Medical Association.
Lagartera, R. (2009). Shout Out: Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Heterosexism. Winnipeg, MB: Rainbow Resource Centre.
“The purpose of this booklet is to share information about some of the challenges, provide resources to help you cope, and let you know loud and clear: you are not alone!”Footnote 52
Perrotti, J. & Westheimer, K. (2001). When the Drama Club is Not Enough. Lessons from the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
“When the Drama Club Is Not Enough presents the work of two young activists who have been at the forefront of the successful Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students in Massachusetts, a model for states and school districts nationwide. They give concrete, hard-won, and often inspiring lessons on integrating gay and lesbian issues to create powerful change for school communities.”Footnote 53
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2008). Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education. Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency of Canada.
IV. Fiction books
Garden, S. (2004). Molly's Family. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
“The members of Ms. Marston's kindergarten class are cleaning and decorating their room for the upcoming Open School Night. Molly and Tommy work on drawing pictures to put on the walls. Molly draws her family: Mommy, Mama Lu, and her puppy, Sam. But when Tommy looks at her picture, he tells her it's not of a family. "You can't have a mommy and a mama," he says. Molly doesn't know what to think; no one else in her class has two mothers. She isn't sure she wants her picture to be on the wall for Open School Night. Molly's dilemma, sensitively explored in words and art, shows readers that even if a family is different from others' it can still be happy, loving, and real.”Footnote 54
LaRochelle, D. (2005). Absolutely, Positively Not.
Markham, ON: Scholastic Inc.
“Steven's a 16-year-old boy with two obsessions: sex and getting his driving license. The problem is, Steven's not thinking girls when he's thinking sex. Could he be — don't say it — gay? Steven sets out to get in touch with his inner he-man with Healthy Heterosexual Strategies such as "Start Hanging Out with the Guys," and "Begin Intensive Dating." But are Steven's tactics going to straighten him out, or leave him all twisted up? Absolutely hilarious. Positively sidesplitting. But absolutely, positively NOT GAY!”Footnote 55
Sanchez, A. (2004). So Hard to Say. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Inc.
“When Frederick shows up at school, Xio is thrilled. The new boy is shy, cute, and definitely good boyfriend material. Before long, she pulls him into her lively circle of friends. Frederick knows he should be flattered by Xio's attention. After all, she's popular, pretty, and a lot of fun. So why can't he stop thinking about Victor, the captain of the soccer team, instead?”Footnote 56
Setterington, K. (2004). Mom and Mum are Getting Married. Toronto, ON: Second Story Press.
“This is a celebration of love and family. When Rosie comes home to find her Mom dancing alone in the living room - on a school day - she knows something wonderful is about to happen. So when one of her two mothers announces, "Your Mum and I are getting married!" they can't wait to start planning the big day. Rosie has so many questions. Will she get to be a flower girl? Can she get a new dress? Will there be food and a fabulous wedding cake? At this party, friends, family and fun come together for a joyous celebration of love in a changing world.” Footnote 57
V. Films
Apples and Oranges. (2005).
Run time: 18 minutes, Rating: NR (Not Rated)
“Apples and Oranges is designed to raise awareness of the harmful effects of homophobia and gender-related name calling, intolerance, stereotyping and bullying.”Footnote 58
It’s Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in Schools. (1996).
Run time: 78 minutes, Rating: NR (Not Rated)
“It's Elementary takes cameras into classrooms across the U.S. to look at one of today's most controversial topics — whether and how gay issues should be discussed in schools. Rather than focusing on the political debate between adults, though, the film takes the point of view of the school children. At its heart are inspiring scenes in which elementary and middle school teachers find creative ways to confront anti-gay prejudice. Each DVD comes with an electronic and print version of an extensive curriculum guide that can be easily used by parent advocates, university educators, or K-12 educators.”Footnote 59
That's a Family! (2000).
Run time: 35 minutes, Rating: NR (Not Rated)
“With revealing honesty and a touch of humor, children from over 50 diverse families open the door to their homes and explain things like "divorce," "mixed race," "gay and lesbian parents," "birth mom," "single parent," "guardian," and "stepdad" — and get right to the point of what they wish other people would understand about their families.”Footnote 60
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