Speaking of PRIDE

Image Credit: Meredith Truax

"For years I tried to put myself in a box, and it frustrated me, so I had to let it go and let the universe take its course"

~ Billy Porter

Grammy, Emmy, & Tony Award Winning Actor, Perfomer

Image Credit: David Evan McDowell

Your wound is probably not your fault, but your healing is your responsibility

~ Denice Frohman

Poet, Performer, Pew Fellow

Image Credit: Maddy Talias

I'm obviously fighting for my community simply because I'm trans, and I have to do that, and I do it because that's my existence. I wake up in the morning, and that is my activism. ~Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Emmy Winning Actress & Singer

Watch & Learn

Learn the Terms

Here is our very own quick glossary of LGBTQIA+ terms and the corresponding flags in the shape of hearts. In order to be an advocate, ally or accomplice for the LGBTQIA+ community, people need to know and understand the terms that make up this population of individuals. This is only a snapshot of the terms that represent this diverse community and I highly encourage readers to do the research to learn more.  


A term used by some LGBTQ+ people to describe themselves and/or their community. Reclaimed from its earlier negative use--and valued by some for its defiance--the term is also considered by some to be inclusive of the entire community and by others who find it to be an appropriate term to describe their more fluid identities. Traditionally a negative or pejorative term for people who are LGBTQ+, some people within the community dislike the term. Due to its varying meanings, use this word only when self-identifying or quoting an individual who self-identifies as queer (i.e., “My cousin identifies as queer” or “My cousin is a queer person”).

A term used to describe people who are emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to people of the same gender (e.g., gay man, gay people). The term should not be used as an umbrella term for LGBTQ+ people, e.g. “the gay community,” because it excludes other sexual orientations and genders. 

Refers to a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women. People who are lesbians need not have had any sexual experience: Attraction and self-identification determines orientation, not the gender or sexual orientation of one’s partner.

Commonly referred to as bi or bi+. According to bi+ educator and advocate ​Robyn Ochs, the term refers to a person who acknowledges in themselves the potential to be attracted--romantically, emotionally and/or sexually--to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree. ​The "bi" in bisexual can refer to attraction to genders similar to and different from one's own.

Often shortened to trans, from the Latin prefix for “on a different side as.” A term describing a person’s gender identity that does not necessarily match their assigned sex at birth. Transgender people may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically to match their gender identity. This word is also used as an umbrella term to describe groups of people who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression--such groups include, but are not limited to, people who identify as transsexual, genderqueer, gender variant, gender diverse, and androgynous.

Refers to people who do not subscribe to the gender binary. They might exist between or beyond the man-woman binary. Some use the term exclusively, while others may use it interchangeably with terms like genderqueer, genderfluid, gender nonconforming, gender diverse, or gender expansive. It can also be combined with other descriptors e.g. nonbinary woman or transmasc nonbinary. Language is imperfect, so it’s important to trust and respect the words that nonbinary people use to describe their genders and experiences.

Intersex is the current term used to refer to people who are biologically between the medically expected definitions of male and female. This can be through variations in hormones, chromosomes, internal or external genitalia, or any combination of any or all primary and/or secondary sex characteristics. While many intersex people are noticed as intersex at birth, many are not. As intersex is about biological sex, it is distinct from gender identity and sexual orientation. An intersex person can be of any gender identity and can also be of any sexual orientation and any romantic orientation.

Refers to individuals who blur preconceived boundaries of gender in relation to the gender binary; they can also reject commonly held ideas of static gender identities. Sometimes used as an umbrella term in much the same way that the term queer is used, but only refers to gender, and thus should only be used when self-identifying or quoting an individual who uses the term genderqueer for themselves.

Describes a person who does not consistently adhere to one fixed gender and who may move among genders.

Refers to a person whose emotional, romantic and/or physical attraction is to people inclusive of all genders. People who are pansexual need not have had any sexual experience: It is the attraction and self-identification that determine the orientation. Pansexuality and bisexuality are different; pansexuality includes all genders equally, whereas bisexuality can favor some genders over others.


*Definitions used for this site can be found on PFLAG . It is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. 

Culture Corner Spotlight:

Google Art & Culture is a great resource for all things visual and virtual cultural arts. It is an interactive and immersive experience from the comfort of your personal computer.  This month we are spotlighting Google Arts & Culture's collection entitled:

"7 Transgender Women Who Made History"

From Stonewall to the Grand Prix, see how they made their mark on the world.


DEIB PRIDE: Book of the Month

About the Book of the Month

An inspiring and radical celebration of 70 women, girls, and nonbinary people who have changed—and are still changing—the world, from the Civil Rights Movement and Stonewall riots through Black Lives Matter and beyond.

With a radical and inclusive approach to history, Modern HERstory profiles and celebrates seventy women and nonbinary champions of progressive social change in a bold, colorful, illustrated format for all ages. Despite making huge contributions to the liberation movements of the last century and today, all of these trailblazers come from backgrounds and communities that are traditionally overlooked and under-celebrated: not just women, but people of color, queer people, trans people, disabled people, young people, and people of faith. Authored by rising star activist Blair Imani, Modern HERstory tells the important stories of the leaders and movements that are changing the world right here and right now—and will inspire you to do the same.



Images sourced from Penguin Random House/ Image Credit: Maggie Shannon

About the Author

Blair Imani is a critically acclaimed historian, author, educator, and influencer. The New York Times praised her unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” Her viral microlearning series Smarter In Seconds demonstrates her signature style of making abstract concepts more concrete in a well-researched, well-presented, and concise manner. She is the author of Read This to Get Smarter about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More; Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream; and Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History. Her work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ community. As an educator and influencer, semi-retired organizer, and public speaker, Blair Imani is dedicated to making the world a better place and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.

The More You Know...Books about PRIDE

Image Courtesy of Oni Press

A Memoir is a 2019 graphic memoir written and illustrated by Maia Kobabe. It recounts Kobabe's journey from adolescence to adulthood and the author's exploration of gender identity and sexuality, ultimately identifying as being outside of the gender binary. 

Image Courtesy of Amazon via Sourcebooks

This Book Is Gay is a nonfiction book written by Juno Dawson and illustrated by Spike Gerrell, first published in the United Kingdom in 2014 with subsequent publication in the US in June 2015.[1] The book is a "manual to all areas of life as an LGBT person"[2] and "is meant to serve as a guidebook for young people discovering their sexual identity and how to navigate those uncomfortable waters.

Image Courtesy of Amazon via Farrar, Straus and Giroux

All Boys Aren't Blue is a young adult non-fiction "memoir-manifesto" by journalist and activist George M. Johnson. The book consists of a series of essays following Johnson's journey growing up as a queer Black man in Plainfield, New Jersey, and Virginia. 

More Books on PRIDE

Barnes & Noble is one of the best places to find books and they have committed to being a place that openly supports the LGBTQIA+ community. Below are some of the recommendations they have for the best books for PRIDE.

Best Books to Read for Pride Month 2023

Celebrate Pride Month year-round with our pride book lists. From literary works around LGBTQIA+ topics to books by celebrated LGBTQIA+ authors and activists, there are variety of books to celebrate pride with! Be inspired by the books that helped shape modern LGBTQIA+ rights movements or fiction books that empower the LGBTQIA+ community.


10 LGBTQIA+ Authors & Pride Books We Love

10 Trans Authors & the Books You Should Read

DEIB Picks for Books You Should Read

Tools for Allyship

 The Human Rights Campaign Foundation hopes this resource can help you build understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and issues, and that you can use this newfound knowledge to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. 

At The Center, we celebrate everyone for who they are. We know that when we show up as allies, we are actively working to strengthen the bonds within our community and beyond, whether that be one-on-one with our families and friends or on a larger scale within a group that shares a common goal.

 A Teaching Tolerance Guide from the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

Policy Recommendations to Support LGBTQ Students by GLSEN

Make Your School & Community Safer for LGBTQ Students...and Everyone Else Too! Made In Collaboration with The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

GLSEN’s Elementary School Toolkit


Ted Talks:


More videos on Allyship:

Resources

GLSEN’s education team has created educator guides for each of our Days of Action, along with other resources for increasing LGBTQ visibility and affirmation into any curriculum. While GLSEN celebrates these Days of Action nationally at specific times throughout the year, the lessons, resources, and activities found here can be implemented at any time.  Check out the resources below for specific guides and tool related to GLSEN programs, days of action and more! Ready to supplement your curriculum? Explore our LGBTQ-Inclusive and Bullying, Bias & Diversity lesson plans.


This is GLSEN's flagship report on the school experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in schools, including the extent of the challenges that they face at school and the school-based resources that support LGBTQ students’ well-being. The survey has consistently indicated that specific school-based supports are related to a safer and more inclusive school climate, including: supportive educators, LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum, inclusive and supportive policies, and supportive student clubs, such as Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs).


The Safe Zone Project (SZP) is a free online resource providing curricula, activities, and other resources for educators facilitating Safe Zone trainings (sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ education sessions), and learners who are hoping to explore these concepts on their own. 


The Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students is a joint program of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).





The only queer youth organization in Springfield MA, Out Now provides a safe space for queer youth & allies to learn about themselves, develop lasting friendships and leadership skills, explore the history of the LGBTQ+ movement, and so much more.


Generation Q is a confidential educational and social/support group for LGBTQIA+ and questioning youth/young adults and allies. These programs are available for anyone who wants to join and connect with LGBTQIA+ folks for support and community.


A youth resource center creating a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies by building community and offering

resources.


OUT MetroWest builds communities where LGBTQ+ youth thrive.


GLSEN Massachusetts is currently working with other GLSEN chapters around the country on a grassroots, chapter-led effort to create racial justice goals and accountability processes that we will hold ourselves and each other to. 



The LGBTQ+ objects and archival collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture focus on the familiar, untold, and unknown stories that have shaped the nation’s past. With the goal of promoting greater understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and contributions, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is exploring new ways of helping visitors reinterpret artifacts and the lives of people who have changed the course of history.  


Translate Gender is a collective-based consensus-run organization that works to generate community accountability for individuals to self-determine their own genders and gender expressions. Since 2006, They have led efforts to fight gender oppression and educate communities on concerns specific to Trans, Gender-Expansive, and/or Gender Nonconforming individuals. 

Culture Corner Spotlight 

Watch this short video about how Teach for America is spotlighting young LGBTQ students who want their schools to be safer for them and other LGBTQ youth.

The Listening Corner

Movies That Matter

*Please note that this list has some films, shows and series that feature adult content, language and situations. They may not be appropriate for younger viewers, so viewer discretion is advised.

Days to Remember

LGBTQ Community Calendar

Calendar created by GLAAD


There are a number of days and months observed, celebrated, and honored by the LGBTQ community. While the list below is specific to LGBTQ-focused days, weeks, and months, LGBTQ people also observe and celebrate non-LGBTQ specific moments such as Black History Month, Latinx Heritage Month, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Women’s History Month, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Media coverage of these and other non-LGBTQ focused moments should include LGBTQ people and the intersections of LGBTQ people and the respective topic.


February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December