Gender and sexual diversity: training sessions

Goals

Develop, as a team, a better understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ issues ;
Collectively reflect on measures against homophobia and transphobia to implement in school.
Gender and sexual diversity: training sessions

Brief description of the issue

Fighting homophobia and bullying is a priority across schools of the province. Homophobia is often rooted in gender stereotypes dictating what should be considered as masculine or feminine, with the goal of reinforcing others’ endorsement of gender stereotypes. It is therefore crucial to challenge gender stereotypes to create a homophobia-free environment. In recent years, Quebec has seen significant social polarisation in secondary schools (Miconi, 2023), a resurgence of misogynistic and masculinist discourse, particularly online (Clermont-Dion, 2025; Radio-Canada, 2023), and a rise in young people’s intolerance towards LGBTQ+ individuals (GRIS-Montréal, 2025).

It is crucial to act every time. Indeed, recent research has clearly shown that homophobia, transphobia and gender-based harassment are the main factors of bullying in school and that they are harmful to all students. Studies reveal that homophobic and transphobic comments or gestures still go unnoticed by adults working with youth (Chamberland, 2011).

To better understand those sometimes ambiguous situations and to know how to act respectfully with 2SLGBTQ+ students, here are a few activities and training sessions that can be done with the school team:

  1. Workshops on sexual and gender diversity: information, resources & strategies. These training workshops are offered at your school by the LGBT Family Coalition to get to know sexual diversity and its vocabulary, and to better interact with homoparental families and 2SLGBTQ+ students.
  2. Organizations to invite to your workplace (for students and/or school staff) to carry out activities for students or professional development for staff:
    1. Association LGBT+ Baie-des-Chaleurs
    2. LGBT Haute-Gaspésie
    3. Vent de fierté
    4. Table régionale 2SLGBTQ+ Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
    5. Coalition des familles LGBT
    6. GRIS-Québec
  3. 20 ideas for creating schools that are open to sexual and gender diversity: This document describes 20 ideas and practices to carry out in schools (or with youth in general) for creating spaces that are safe and open to sexual and gender diversity. The suggested activities are easy to organise with links to relevant web sites, as well as testimonials from teachers.
  4. How to establish inclusive and non-discriminatory policies: intended for school principals, this guide allows to work at the policy level to create inclusive policies that encourage a nondiscriminatory environment.