Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators offers a series of digital media resources to help teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and other educators understand and effectively address the complex and difficult issues faced by LGBTQ students.
The collection includes a growing set of curriculum resources, designed to integrate LGBTQ+ history and narratives into US History and English classrooms. These resources are aligned with a curriculum guide developed by the New York City Department of Education’s Social Studies department called Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History. Hidden Voices examines individuals who questioned and broke the normed expectations of gender and/or sexuality, and who were therefore often “hidden” from the traditional historical record. These individuals influenced the social, political, cultural, and economic landscape of the United States in so many ways, and their contributions continue to shape our collective history and identity. A collection of 20 lesson plans that build on content found in the Hidden Voices curriculum guide is also available.
Note: Be sure to preview this material before using this content with your students.
Other resources, intended for use in teacher professional development settings or with GSAs, feature short segments of video content from WNET’s groundbreaking LGBTQ series First Person, a digital series that delivers candid personal narratives illustrating larger conversations about gender, sexuality, social norms, and identity development.
All video content is scaffolded by a suite of materials (informational text, conversation guides, discussion questions, and teaching tips) to facilitate their use in either classroom or professional development settings. The videos and accompanying educational resources are designed to help promote understanding, awareness, and self-esteem.