The need for gender-inclusive
biology instruction is now.

  • All students need a complete and accurate education on  biological diversity in sex and gender.

  • LGBTQ+ students experience disproportionate rates of harassment, discipline, and violence at school. Providing gender-inclusive education can decrease these rates by normalizing diverse experiences.

  • This work is urgently needed because misunderstandings of biology contribute to institutional and national policies discriminating against transgender and intersex individuals.

  • Queer and transgender individuals are less likely to complete STEM degrees and be out to their colleagues.  Improving awareness and inclusion in biology is an important step towards equity and providing a safer space for LGBTQ individuals to express their identities.

  • Intersex students rarely see themselves represented in the curriculum, and if they do, it is often as an anomaly or as a genetic disorder/disease.  Focus on genetic diversity helps destigmatize intersex traits  

 

Peer-Reviewed Research Supporting Gender Inclusion

 
Monthly Newsletter
careernav.png
higher education, student responses, diversity
Creating Cell Biology Courses That Are Inclusive for People Who Are Intersex and/or Have Queer Genders
higher education, student responses, diversity
higher education, student responses, diversity
lse.2022.21.issue-4.cover.jpg
higher education, student responses, diversity
“It’s completely erasure”: A Qualitative Exploration of Experiences of Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender Nonconforming, and Questioning Students in Biology Courses
higher education, student responses, diversity
higher education, student responses, diversity
unsplash-image-Wa-gS5R58gA.jpg
violence, gender roles, gender norms
Challenge norms & build interruption skills
violence, gender roles, gender norms
violence, gender roles, gender norms
logo-plos.png
inclusion outcomes, inclusion, student success
Ten simple rules for supporting historically underrepresented students in science
inclusion outcomes, inclusion, student success
inclusion outcomes, inclusion, student success
harassment, bullying, adolescent development, adolescents, schools
Research documents school staff tend to blame victim of anti-LGBT harassment, incl. removing from school, when perpetrators face minor consequences. (Bochenek & Brown 2001)
harassment, bullying, adolescent development, adolescents, schools
harassment, bullying, adolescent development, adolescents, schools
"I am intersex. My middle school science teacher would stand in front of my desk and loudly announce that intersex was made up and there was only male and female." - AH (18 yo)
youth, intersex, gender inclusion, no surgical intervention, pronouns
"Rosie's mother said she felt extremely pressured by the surgeons to consent to surgery on [Rosie as an Intersex baby] even after she voiced her concerns." - CNN
youth, intersex, gender inclusion, no surgical intervention, pronouns
youth, intersex, gender inclusion, no surgical intervention, pronouns
trans youth, transgender, youth, school culture and climate, school safety
"Individual self-esteem, healthy relationships w/ parents & peers, and GSAs are most common protective factors." (J Prim Prev)
trans youth, transgender, youth, school culture and climate, school safety
trans youth, transgender, youth, school culture and climate, school safety
school culture and climate, 9-12, high school, youth, mental health, safety, school safety
Heteronormative safety policies, violence, & harassment at schools cause decrease in perceived safety for gender-nonconforming students in 28 high schools. (J. Adolesc)
school culture and climate, 9-12, high school, youth, mental health, safety, school safety
school culture and climate, 9-12, high school, youth, mental health, safety, school safety
youth, school culture and climate
Study of 245 lgbt adults finds LGBT-related school victimization links adolescent gender nonconformity w/ adult happiness. (Dev. Psychol.)
youth, school culture and climate
youth, school culture and climate
mental health, adolescent development, schools, school culture and climate, youth
"The presence of a GSA correlates with fewer depressive symptoms & mental health referrals for suicidal thoughts." (Journal of Youth & Adolescence)
mental health, adolescent development, schools, school culture and climate, youth
mental health, adolescent development, schools, school culture and climate, youth
peer reviewed, research, inclusion
Family Acceptance of LGBT Youth Protects Against Suicide, Depression & Substance Abuse and Predicts Better Health & Self-Esteem (Journal of School Health)
peer reviewed, research, inclusion
peer reviewed, research, inclusion
mental health, youth, deadnaming, research
Using a Transgender Person's Name Can Decrease Their Risk of Depression and Suicide (Teen Vogue)
mental health, youth, deadnaming, research
mental health, youth, deadnaming, research
peer reviewed, gender identity, sexual orientation, same-sex behavior, research
Same-sex attraction & behavior are more common than LGB identity (Advance Data; Annals of Internal Medicine)
peer reviewed, gender identity, sexual orientation, same-sex behavior, research
peer reviewed, gender identity, sexual orientation, same-sex behavior, research
substance abuse, mental health, youth, schools, peer reviewed
Transgender youths four times as likely to engage in substance use; linked to depression & bullying
substance abuse, mental health, youth, schools, peer reviewed
substance abuse, mental health, youth, schools, peer reviewed
mental health, bullying, transgender, youth, peer reviewed
Victimization of Transgender Youths Linked to Suicidal Thoughts, Substance Abuse (Journal of Adolescent Health)
mental health, bullying, transgender, youth, peer reviewed
mental health, bullying, transgender, youth, peer reviewed
adolescent development, bullying, research, transgender, schools, lifetime outcomes, peer reviewed
School Victimization of Gender-Nonconforming LGBT Youth Linked with Depression and Quality Of Life In Adulthood (Developmental Psychology)
adolescent development, bullying, research, transgender, schools, lifetime outcomes, peer reviewed
adolescent development, bullying, research, transgender, schools, lifetime outcomes, peer reviewed
inclusion, lgbt, family
Groundbreaking Research on Family Rejection of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adolescents Establishes Predictive Link to Negative Health Outcomes (Pediatrics)
inclusion, lgbt, family
inclusion, lgbt, family
YouthSurvey_2018_1200x630.png
research
2018 HRC LGBTQ Youth Report
research
research
gender constructs, research
About 0.7% - 2.7% identify as transgender at high school age (Williams Institute, 2017) (Rider et al, 2018)
gender constructs, research
gender constructs, research
suicide, lgbt, student success, students, university, policy statements, research
“LGBTQ students experience depression at higher rates than general population, negatively influencing success in college & higher rates of attempted or actual suicide.” (Pediatrics 2011)
suicide, lgbt, student success, students, university, policy statements, research
suicide, lgbt, student success, students, university, policy statements, research
diversity, higher education, admissions
"A growing number of colleges and universities have been asking students to identify their gender identity and sexual orientation on admissions forms." (INSIGHT into Diversity 2016)
diversity, higher education, admissions
diversity, higher education, admissions
masculinity, gender constructs, violence, stereotyping
"Young people and adults who adhere to rigid gender stereotyping and notions of masculinity are more likely to experience and commit sexual harassment and dating violence.” (Promundo 2018)
masculinity, gender constructs, violence, stereotyping
masculinity, gender constructs, violence, stereotyping
biological development, neurobiology, puberty, stereotyping
“Receiving [information to counter gender stereotyping] at an early age is critical; there has been a steady decline in the average age at which puberty begins..." (NYT & PNAS 2015)
biological development, neurobiology, puberty, stereotyping
biological development, neurobiology, puberty, stereotyping
image.jpg
masculinity, relationship health
“Numerous studies found that beliefs in narrowly defined constructs of masculinity are associated with decreased well-being in intimate relationships.” (American Academy of Pediatrics 2018)
masculinity, relationship health
masculinity, relationship health
lgbt, stem, careers, persistence
“LGBQ college students are 7% less likely than heterosexuals to persist in STEM after 4 years versus switching to a non-STEM field.” (Science Advances 2018)
lgbt, stem, careers, persistence
lgbt, stem, careers, persistence

Positive student outcomes from inclusion.

Featured
More LGBTQ-inclusive sex ed reduces odds of bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, and victimization (J Adolesc Health)
Doctor's Rec: WPATH Standards of Care for “Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People”
Doctor's Rec: Puberty blockers can be life-saving for transgender teenagers. (Pediatrics)
"Individual self-esteem, healthy relationships w/ parents & peers, and GSAs are most common protective factors." (J Prim Prev)
W. Canada schools w/ GSAs of 3+yrs consistently reduces suicidal ideation for ALL students regardless of orientation (Int'l Journal of Child Youth Family Studies)
"The presence of a GSA correlates with fewer depressive symptoms & mental health referrals for suicidal thoughts." (Journal of Youth & Adolescence)
"School connectedness & school adult support were associated w/ 22% decrease in drug use in LGB California public school students." (LGBT Health)
Psychologists recognize that TGNC people are more likely to experience positive life outcomes when they receive social support or trans-affirmative care. (APA)
Goal: Help child and family decipher subjective gender experience and differentiate those with persistent transgender identity from those exploring gender non-conforming expression
Doctor's Rec: 64,000+ pediatricians recommend gender-affirming treatment for children based on best available evidence
Doctor's Rec: Statement from American Academy of Pediatrics
Family Acceptance of LGBT Youth Protects Against Suicide, Depression & Substance Abuse and Predicts Better Health & Self-Esteem (Journal of School Health)
Using a Transgender Person's Name Can Decrease Their Risk of Depression and Suicide (Teen Vogue)
Using Chosen Names Reduces Odds of Depression and Suicide in Transgender Youths (Journal of Adolescent Health)
glsen.jpg
LGBT high school seniors were more likely to be interested in studying STEM [...] in college if their relevant high school classes had included positive LGBT content." (GLSEN, 2013)
Gender-inclusion in classrooms "increase[s] students’ ability to empathize with others and embrace many forms of diversity" (Ching and Xu, 2017)
“[Of 45,689 papers, those] written by ethnically diverse groups were cited 11.2% more than were papers written by non-diverse groups.” (Nature 2018)