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Resources on Gender Variance in Children

10/6/2008

Organizations Focusing on Gender Variance

  • Gender Spectrum
    Gender Spectrum provides community information and training on support for gender variant children and their families. Also of note is the Gender Spectrum Family Conference, an annual conference for people raising gender non-conforming, gender variant, and transgender children and adolescents.
  • Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GPAC)
    The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition works to ensure that classrooms, communities, and workplaces are safe for everyone to learn, grow, and succeed - whether or not they meet expectations for masculinity and femininity.
  • Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference
    This conference focuses on the specific issues, needs, and experiences of trans and gender-variant people with regard to the health of our bodies, lives, and communities. Everyone concerned about these issues is welcome to attend, including but not limited to: members of the trans and gender variant communities, partners, allies, family members, healthcare and social service providers. This year's conference is being held May 29-31, 2008.
  • TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA)
    TYFA empowers children and families by partnering with educators, service providers and communities, to develop supportive environments in which gender may be expressed and respected. They have well trained advocates and provide resource assistance for families experiencing discrimination or other difficulties in schools or other environments.
  • Washington D.C. Children’s National Medical Center Program for Children with Gender Variant Behaviors and their Families
    This program offers a variety of resources to support families with gender variant children, including a national support network and a Parents’ Guide.

Information on Tolerance, Diversity and Gender Variance

  • Children as They Are 
    GPAC is the parent organization of this entity which focuses particularly on children and schools.
  • The Gay Straight Alliance Network
    Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs
  • Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network
    GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. They provide curriculum ideas and other links such as:
  • Teach Respect  
  • No Name Calling Week
    • National Education Association
      The NEA offers resources on GLBT diversity in schools including sample curricula and publications on GLBT issues in schools.
    • Operation Respect – Don’t Laugh at Me Program (DLAM) 
      This organization focuses on creating schools free of bullying, ridicule and violence. Resources include curriculum guides and CDs.
    • Tolerance.org 
      Run out of the Southern Poverty Law Center, this website offers suggestions for promoting respect and teaching about diversity in the classroom.

    Media Articles on Gender Variance

    Medical literature

    Mainstream newspapers and magazines

    Books for Children Ages 3 to 9

    • Bateman, Teresa - The Bully Blockers
    • Blackwood, Mary & Argent, Kerry - Derek the Knitting Dinosaur
    • dePaola, Tomie - Oliver Button Is a Sissy [Available in Spanish]
    • Fox, Mem - The Straight Line Wonder & Fairy, Fairy Quite Contrary
    • Fierstein, Harvey & Cole, Henry - The Sissy Duckling
    • Hanks, Kevin - Chrysanthemum
    • Hoffman, Mary - Amazing Grace
    • Howes, James & Sweet, Melissa - Pinky and Rex & Pinky and Rex and the Bully
    • Lum, Kate - Princesses Are Not Quitters
    • McCain, Becky Ray - Nobody Knew What To Do
    • Moss, Peggy & Lyon, Lea - Say Something
    • Newman, Leslea & Ferguson, Peter - The Boy Who Cried Fabulous
    • O’Connor, Jane - Fancy Nancy & Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy  
    • O’Neil, Alexis - The Recess Queen
    • Parnell, Peter - And Tango Makes 3 [Available in Spanish]
    • Parr, Todd - It’s Okay to Be Different
    • Scamell, Ragnhild & Reynolds, Adrian - Toby’s Doll’s House
    • Shannon, David - A Bad Case of Stripes