Bringing Trans*-Affirming Education to a Rural Region: Community, University, and Teacher Activists in Collaboration

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Queer and Trans Advocacy: Rethinking Where and How It Can Happen

Abstract

This presentation shares an action research project through which community, university, and parent/ teacher activists are working collaboratively to bring knowledge about supporting and affirming transgender students to local educators. Within our rural region, we have been planning and facilitating trainings and focus groups for teachers, administrators, and school counselors for over a year. Our research looks at the process of how we have come together as a group, how we navigate the cultural and political landscape of doing this work in this time and place, and how we might move forward in expanding and deepening our conversations about gender identities as we work to create more trans* affirming schools in our local community.

Authors

• Erin H. Whitney, California State University - Chico

• Jennifer Cox, Orland Unified School District

• Julie Nilsson

• Conner Wenzel, Stonewall Alliance

• Marin Hambley, Stonewall Alliance