Welcome to my August Resource Roundup! This monthly feature includes a variety of articles, videos, infographics, books, etc. on LGBTQ+ topics that I’ve encountered during the month which were helpful for me or could be helpful for others. Some of them will be old things I encountered for the first time or rediscovered. Others will be new. But they will all be things that resonated with me during this month.

Articles & Websites

• Back to School 2021 [GLSEN]
  
  To help start off the school year right, GLSEN has created a page with tips, resources, and videos for educators, students, and parents/caregivers working to make sure LGBTQ+ students in their communities are fully affirmed by their school policies, curriculum, activities, and overall school culture. Check out this page if you’re looking for some guidance or refreshers on how you can best support LGBTQ+ students in your school as an educator.
  
  
• Colonialism Still Affects How Black and Indigenous People See Gender [them]
  
  Over the past year or so, I’ve been thinking a lot about how white supremacy and colonialism complicate BIPOC relationships to gender and especially about what that looks like for Black AFAB folks. This article does a good job at addressing some of the things I’ve been pondering and making space for some of the nuance by highlighting the experiences of different Black and Indigenous people.
  
  
• Gender Support Checklist for Transgender and Non-Binary Students [Welcoming Schools]
  
  This checklist by HRC’s Welcoming Schools branch offers a solid starting place for educators unsure what things they might need to consider in order to support trans or non-binary students in their schools. This checklist is useful if you already have out trans and nonbinary students at your school or if you’re looking to proactively prepare for the time when a student comes out as trans or nonbinary to members of your school community.
  
  
• The Trauma-Focused CBT and Family Acceptance Project: An Integrated Framework for Children and Youth [Psychiatric Times]
  
  This article builds a solid argument for a new model of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) that integrates the approach of the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) to support sexual and gender minority children and their families. I’d highly recommend this article for social workers, therapists, and counselors who may be working with trauma-impacted LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
  
  
• What is gender-affirming medical care for transgender children? Here’s what you need to know. [The Texas Tribune]
  
  This article provides a nice introduction to what gender-affirming medical care looks like for transgender children and why allowing trans children to receive that care is crucial to their development, all contextualized through the lens of what is happening in the Texas legislature right now. If you’re not sure what gender-affirming medical care looks like for minors or haven’t heard actual Texans describe the legislative history of attacks on transgender people, this may be an especially good article for you.

Informative Posts/Graphics

• Book Rec: How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess [Teaching Outside the Binary]
  
  I’m always excited to see more ace representation in the literature world, so I paid special attention when I saw Ace Schwarz recommending this book on their Instagram. Although I haven’t had the chance to read the book yet, this recommendation made me eager to get my hands on it. Perhaps, this rec will do the same for you.
  
  
• “gender dysphoria doesn’t always manifest as an obvious sense of distress about your body…” [Jerrica]
  
  In this Twitter thread, Jerrica uses examples from her own life to break down how gender dysphoria can manifest in more ways than the generally discussed ones. She also takes time to challenge the notion that transness is defined by suffering, which is a concept I’ve heard many trans folks share but have heard very few cis folks mention when talking about trans experiences. I’d highly recommend this thread to anyone considering whether they are transgender and/or nonbinary as well as to cisgender folks looking to get a clearer sense of what gender dysphoria and trans identity can mean to trans folks.
  
  
• How We Introduced Pronouns on the First Day of School (in a second grade class) [Gender Inclusive Classrooms]
  
  I loved this post in which Katy, one of the teachers running this Instagram, shared quick examples of ways she found to teach her students about pronouns on their first day of school. For elementary educators seeking to teach students about gender in inclusive, affirming, and age-appropriate ways, Katy’s examples provide some great ideas for how to turn a variety of encounters with students into teachable moments.
  
  
• Tips for Emotionally Preparing for Top Surgery, Part 1: Pre-Surgery Feels [Nat DiFrank M.Ed.]
  
  Inspired by their own experience of having top surgery, my colleague Nat DiFrank shared these tips for trans and non-binary folks who are preparing for top surgery. For any trans and non-binary folks even simply considering top surgery, Nat’s post offers some considerations that may be helpful for you. For educators who have not personally had or considered top surgery, Nat’s tips may be a valuable resource for you to offer students who may be considering top surgery or in the process of preparing for for top surgery.