SOGI
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
School District #67 – Okanagan Skaha has been an active member of the B.C. SOGI Educator Network since its inception in 2016. With a District Lead responsible for liaison and communication with regional and provincial leaders, we are committed to creating and maintaining school teams across the district, comprised of SOGI School leads to help facilitate conversation in school communities, share resources with parents and teachers, and support students. Our team is actively engaged in ongoing professional development, resource-sharing, and consultation to support our efforts.
1. SOGI 1 2 3 shares proven SOGI-inclusive tools and resources in the areas of policy and procedures, inclusive environments and curriculum resources. The new SOGI-Inclusive Education Resource Guide is also available, provided by the BC K-12 SOGI Collaborative.
https://www.sogieducation.org/resource-guide
2. Foundry Penticton offers young people 12-24 access to mental health and substance use support, primary care, peer support and social services. Support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth is available, including counseling specific for trans and non-binary young people and their families.
- Up to date language and terminology
- Understanding the impact of representation
- How to incorporate Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) in the classroom
http://bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=6106
The BCTF also offers a variety of free workshops to teachers that aim to develop skills to interrupt, address, and challenge homophobia and transphobia within our classrooms and school communities.
5. Qmunity is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, B.C. that works to improve queer and trans lives. They provide a safer space for LGBTQ2S people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included.
6. The Trans Care BC program, from the Provincial Health Services Authority, supports the delivery of equitable and accessible care, surgical planning, and peer and community support for trans people across the province. Resources, education and support are available at:
7. I Dream Library
Diverse Childhood Literature: I Dream Library connects students, caregivers, educators & organizations with intersectionally diverse literature and literary resources. We support childhood mental wellness through creating safer learning spaces for enby, gender fluid, 2S/Indigiqueer, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour. This resource empowers intersectional 2SQTBIPoC representation in curriculum, classrooms and care centers everywhere.
8. Pflag Canada is proud to be Canada’s only national organization that offers peer-to-peer support striving to help all Canadians with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We support, educate and provide resources to anyone with questions or concerns. We promise to offer local, practical, and emotional peer-to-peer family support for individuals and their loved ones challenged by gender/sexual identity.
9. The Pride Education Network of administrators, teachers, support staff, youth and parents strives to make the B.C. school system more welcoming and equitable for LGBTQI2S students, staff and queer families.
Egale is Canada’s leading organization for LGBTQI2S people and issues. We improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world. Our work helps create societies and systems that reflect the universal truth that all persons are equal and none is other.
Founded in 1995, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is Canada’s only national charity promoting LGBTQI2S human rights through research, education and community engagement.