Updated guidance clarifies gender-affirming practices in schools
Thursday, January 5, 2023
The Oregon Department of Education released Thursday a revised schools guidance for gender-affirming practices.
“Supporting Gender Expansive Students” is an update from a 2016 guidance. The new guidance clarifies how to support “all gender expansive students, including but not limited to transgender, nonbinary, two spirit, intersex, agender, genderqueer, and genderfluid identities,” according to a news release.
The guidance has sections on issues such as names, pronouns, self-expression in schools, bathrooms and safety. It also has recommendations for merging legal requirements with best practices and implementation examples and tools.
ODE developed the guidance with input from students, parents, community members, educators, school district leaders, education advocates, LGBTQ2SIA+ advocates, culturally specific organizations and the Oregon Health Authority. The guidance includes resources for students and families to get additional support as well as health care and crisis services.
“It is our responsibility to move beyond mere tolerance and inclusion toward respectful, affirming and celebratory school communities where all students belong and succeed,” ODE Director Colt Gill said. “Gender expansive students who are absent due to fear, or who spend their school day feeling unsafe, are prevented from accessing their right to an education.”
