September 23 - Celebrate Bisexuality+ Day
A day to celebrate and recognize the bisexual community and raise awareness on the prejudices and challenges faced by bisexual people.

October 11 – National Coming Out Day
A day to celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (2SLGBTQ+) or as an ally.

November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
A day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia.

January 20-24 – No Name Calling Week
A school-based campaign that aims to end name-calling once and for all.

February 28 – Pink Shirt Day / April 10 – International Day of Pink
Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of bullying. The International Day is against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny across the world. Everyone can celebrate a Pink Day. Both days remind us that all colours are for everyone. Start by checking out our Toolkit and be sure to deliver a SOGI-inclusive lesson plan.

April 12 – Day of Silence
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students across the world take a vow of silence on a Friday in April to raise awareness about the silencing effect of anti-2SLGBTQ+ bullying, harassment and discrimination.

May 17 – International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia
A day that aims to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTIQ+ people internationally.

Pride
June is Pride Month. From flag raising to poster contests, pronoun button fundraisers to connecting with local Pride events, there are 101 ways to celebrate Pride Month in schools.

July 14 - International Non-Binary People’s Day
Though during a month that most schools are closed, this is still a great day to be aware of!

First Steps for Using Inclusive Language
 

USE GENDER-FREE PHRASING
Talk in a way that does not specify a gender, sex, or sexual orientation unless it is pertinent to the comment.

e.g.,“Good morning everyone.” instead of “Good morning boys and girls.”
e.g., “Students should turn in their papers” instead of “Each student should turn in his/her paper.”

USE LANGUAGE FOR ALL FAMILIES
Refer to a student’s “family” or “parents” instead of “mom and dad” to include students who may have single, 2SLGBTQ+ parents, or alternate guardians.

e.g., “Please tell your parents or adults.” instead of “Please tell your mom and dad.”

EXPAND YOUR VOCABULARY
SOGI-related vocabulary is always evolving. Do not hesitate to ask questions about and get clarity on respectful language for talking about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The English glossary is from the Ministry of Human Services (see Appendix A, pages 11-13)

Making All School Spaces Safer Spaces

BATHROOMS AND CHANGE ROOMS
Having at least one accessible all-gender bathroom has become a priority for most schools.

Alberta schools that undergo a major renovation or new build have started including universal washrooms that increase safety for all students. Even with no budget, there are ways to get creative with existing facilities.

LIBRARIES
Libraries are often seen as safe spaces by children and youth. Students can see themselves and their experiences reflected in a good book and learn about the many possibilities that exist in the world. 

MAP THE SCHOOL
What makes a hallway, classroom, or gathering space feel safe or unsafe? Where do students feel the most able to be themselves and the most comfortable? The following lesson plan is from BC but can be adapted to Alberta and used in a class setting or as a GSA activity.

Make Schools Visually Welcoming Through Rainbows, Posters, and More
 

RAINBOW DISPLAYS
Rainbow crosswalks have exploded in popularity in recent years to signal that a school is SOGI-inclusive. While still an excellent choice, more and more schools are getting creative; for example rainbow stairways, ceiling tiles, and murals.

POSTERS AND STICKERS
Students will look for posters, stickers, or other imagery in a school as hints that signal who is a safe person to talk to at their school. Check out our Elementary Focused Poster Series as well as the ATA Safe Space Spaces material as a starting place, or talk to your school or district about creating your own Pride version of their logo.

REPRESENTATION
Imagine a new family with two dads touring your school or a closeted youth wondering if their new high school will be a safe place to come out.

Make sure posters and visual representations of people on school walls reflect a variety of sexual orientations and gender identities, not only in a rainbow display.

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