10 Key Components for Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures that explicitly reference SOGI have been proven to reduce discrimination, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts for all students. When creating and revising policies and procedures, many in the SOGI 1 2 3 community have found this list—compiled by the BC Ministry of Education SOGI Working Group—to be a great starting point.
1. COMMON LANGUAGE
All parties will be well-informed of and equipped with appropriate and respectful language.
2. SAFETY/ANTI-HARASSMENT
Proactive and reactive measures that include sexual orientation and gender identity will impact all students.
3. SELF-IDENTIFICATION
Students will have the right to self-identification, which includes the name by which they wish to be addressed and the preferred pronouns that correspond to their gender identity.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY
Students will have the right to the confidentiality of their official and/or preferred sex, gender, and name.
5. DRESS GUIDELINES
Students may express their gender identity or gender expression through what they wear to school. A dress code should be as all-inclusive as possible, which may include removing pronouns.
6. GENDER INTEGRATED AND INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES
Integrated and inclusive activities will enable students to join teams and groups that they feel correspond with their gender identity.
7. EDUCATOR TRAINING
All staff will be provided with knowledge and tools to develop a broad understanding of SOGI and the impact on students.
8. INCLUSIVE LEARNING
Classroom materials and activities will contain positive images and accurate information about sexual and/or gender diversity.
9. FACILITIES
Individuals may choose to use washrooms and change rooms that match their gender identity, including non-gendered single-stall washrooms and change rooms.
10. INCLUSIVE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students will be included and accommodated for in all extra-curricular activities regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including support to set up a Gender-Sexuality Alliance/Gay-Straight Alliance or similar club.