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Disclaimer: These resources are curated using information and links from a variety of local and national organizations. Any advertisements associated with these links may not be approved by the district. This information is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Tipton High School currently has an active LGBTQ+ club and a support group. Please contact krystyna.kaminski@tipton.k12.ia.us for more information on how to join or if you are in need of further support.
If students are interested in changing their name on PowerSchool, email, or their computer, please contact the district IT department.
Helpful links:
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
For more information:
Hotlines
Hotlines
Trans Lifeline
877-565-8860
LGBTQIA Crisis Hotline/ The Trevor Project
866-488-7386 or Text START to 678678
For youth: 800-246-7743
For all ages: 888-843-4564
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Iowa Statistics on LGBT+ and Suicide
Youth Centers and Support Groups
Youth Centers and Support Groups
LGBTQ Youth Center - Tanager Place, Cedar Rapids, IA
United Action for Youth
Swaim Youth Center - Iowa City
GLBTQ&A support group - contact Jamie at Jamie.Ellis@unitedactionforyouth.org
QT Digital Space- a space for trans and queer youth everywhere to build community with others across the country.
Meetings are on the last Thursday of the month. Register here
Multicultural Family Center's LGBTQ+ Support groups - in-person or online via Zoom - Dubuque, IA
Groups for youth, adults, and family/friends
LGBTQ Iowa Caretaker/parent/guardian support group
Clock, Inc - Rock Island, IL
Variety of support groups relating to the LGBT+ community
PFLAG Cedar Rapids - Multiple support groups
Trevor Space - social networking site
Gender Spectrum - virtual support group for LGBT+ ages 10-12
TransVerse support group
Trans and NonBinary Ames support group
BUTTERFLY Talks - virtual peer support
GenderQueer - virtual peer support for gender non-conforming/genderqueer/trans individuals
If You Give a Trans Person a Book Club - virtual book club
United Action for Youth event schedule:
United Action for Youth event schedule:
Resources
Resources
Iowa/Local:
Iowa/Local:
Clock, Inc - Quad Cities
support groups, workshops, counseling, training, and a clothing closet for trans individuals (including binders)
LGBTQ Iowa - library and archives
Iowa Safe Schools - advocacy and support
TransEquality - Iowa name and gender change information
Resource Databases
Resource Databases
GSA Network resource library
Q Card Project - for youth and providers
National Center for Transgender Equality - for trans rights
Gender Justice Leadership Programs - for trans youth
GLBT Near Me - database for finding lgbt+ resources
Other
Other
Mental health and medical agencies
Mental health and medical agencies
University of Iowa LGBTQ+ Clinic
University of Iowa Pediatric LGBTQ Clinic
List of inclusive mental and medical healthcare providers in Iowa: https://oneiowa.org/resources/health-wellness/
Supportive therapy organizations:
Supportive therapy organizations:
United Action for Youth (UAY) - Iowa City
the M.A.D. Therapy provides gender-affirming therapy - Quad Cities
See Mental Health Services for more
Articles:
Apps
Apps
Deadname Remover google extension - will change/remove your deadname across google
Quist - app for LGBTQ+ history
Refuge Restrooms - find safe/gender-neutral restrooms near you
About LGBTQ+
About LGBTQ+
A good place to start learning about the community is knowing the terminology. Below you can find several resources, definitions, and information that can help.
Important concepts and terms to know
Important concepts and terms to know
For a visual breakdown of gender and sexual orientation, people commonly refer to the GenderBread Person. You can find a more in-depth explanation of a version of the diagram here.
Gender vs Sex
Gender identity is person's understanding and internal perception of who they are as male, female, a blend of both, or neither. Gender is a spectrum, not binary (male or female).
Sex refers to the biological/anatomical makeup of a person (hormones, chromosomes, reproductive organs, etc). A person's sex assigned at birth can be the same or different from their gender identity. For example, someone can be born with male sex characteristics while identifying as a woman.
It is most commonly believed that a person can be born either male or female. However, a person can also be born Intersex, meaning that they are born with some variation of male and female anatomy and traits. This means that biological sex is also a spectrum, not binary.
Sexual Orientation
It is important to recognize that one's gender does not equate to sexual orientation. The label may change to affirm one's gender identity, but it does not determine who they're attracted to.
The Split Attraction Model is most commonly used by the asexual community to understand their attraction to others. This model states that for some individuals, sexual and romantic orientation are separate. For example, a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction but wants romantic relationships with those of the same and other genders may identify as a “biromantic asexual”. This model is also a start to the conversation about deciphering between other types of attraction, such as physical, emotional, aesthetic, and spiritual attraction. Learn more at asexuality.org.
Learn about terms and the community
Learn about terms and the community
GLSEN 2019 National School Climate Survey displays statistics on students in the LGBT+ community and their experiences.
The Trevor Project has a resources section where you can explore various topics about the LGBT+ community
Coming Out Handbook explains the spectrums of gender and sexuality
The 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health - click to read the results
GALE (Global Alliance on LGBT Education)
Comprehensive LGBTQ+ dictionary (non-exhaustive). It is best to ask before assuming any are still ok to use.
Gender Wiki - for terms and definitions related to gender identity
The Gender Unicorn by TSER and the GenderBread Person by Itspronouncedmetrosexual can help people of all ages understand the complexity of sexuality and gender. See a combined version at the bottom of this page.
The GENDER Book - fun, colorful, community-based resource, which illustrates the beautiful diversity of gender - a gender 101 for anyone and everyone.
We Are the Youth - articles with stories from LGBT+ youth in the U.S.
YES Institute - courses and other education-related events
Gender-specific:
The Trans Language Primer - detailed index of terms with defintions and more
MyPronouns.org provides education and resources related to understanding pronouns
Gender Spectrum - an organization with information explaining gender
Breaking through the binary: Gender explained using continuum
Sexual orientation-specific:
Asexual Visibility and Education Network - a central site to find resources and learn about asexuality
Bi.org - a central site to learn about bisexuality
Gender Dysphoria and Treatment
Gender Dysphoria and Treatment
Quick Guide: https://childmind.org/guide/gender-dysphoria-quick-guide/
Psychology Today definition:
Gender dysphoria (formerly known as gender identity disorder) is defined by strong, persistent feelings of identification with another gender and discomfort with one's own assigned gender and sex; it is considered a disorder if the person experiences clinically significant distress or impairment in major areas of life as a result of the incongruence. People with gender dysphoria often desire to live in accordance with their gender identity and may dress and use mannerisms associated with the gender with which they identify in order to achieve this goal. Identifying with a gender different from the one that was assigned is not a mental disorder in itself. Below is the definition directly from the DSM-5.
The DSM-5 states that the initial condition for the identification of gender dysphoria in both adults and teenagers is a noticeable incongruence between the gender the patient believes they are, and what society perceives them to be. This disparity should be ongoing for at least 6 months and should consist of 2 or more of the subsequent criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013):
Noticeable incongruence between the gender that the patient sees themselves are, and what their classified gender assignment
An intense need to do away with his or her primary or secondary sex features (or, in the case of young teenagers, to avert the maturity of the likely secondary features)
An intense desire to have the primary or secondary sex features of the other gender
A deep desire to transform into another gender
A profound need for society to treat them as another gender
A powerful assurance of having the characteristic feelings and responses of the other gender
The second necessity is that the condition should be connected with clinically important distress, or effects the individual significantly socially, at work, and in other important areas of life.
Treatment may include affirmation in various domains.
Social affirmation may include an individual adopting pronouns, names, and various aspects of gender expression that match their gender identity (such as wearing binders).
Legal affirmation may involve changing name and gender markers on various forms of government identification.
Medical affirmation may include pubertal suppression for adolescents with gender dysphoria and gender-affirming hormones like estrogen and testosterone for older adolescents and adults. Medical affirmation is not recommended for prepubertal children. Some adults (and sometimes adolescents) may undergo various aspects of surgical affirmation, such as top or bottom surgery (top=breast removal or enhancement, bottom=sex change/genital region).
Chest Binders
Chest Binders
When a person is transgender, nonbinary, and/or has gender dysphoria, one thing they can do to appear more masculine or less feminine is to wear a binder. Chest binding is used as a gender-affirming practice that can reduce gender dysphoria symptoms. Binders compress the chest to make it appear flatter. You can read this article with some stories of why people use binders.
The mental health benefits: according to this study, "roughly 70 percent of surveyed individuals reported a positive mood after starting to bind compared to only about 7 percent who reported having a positive mood before binding. This explains why, in the same study, approximately 87 percent of transgender-identifying individuals reported using binding as a method for achieving congruence between their physical appearance and gender identity." (Moffa, 2019).
Chest binding does have health risks, especially if done incorrectly. It is important to be aware of safe binding practices to prevent any health risks associated with it. Binding with athletic bandages or duct tape can be dangerous. Chest binding can be done with dedicated binding garments, sports bras, or binding tape. Sports bras are typically not as effective for those with gender dysphoria in comparison to a binding garment. Binging tape can be used to be less restrictive on the chest. However, even using these techniques have their risks if done improperly. Improper binding can include using the wrong size (too small), wearing a binder for too long, wearing one to bed, and exercising with one on. In general, you should avoid binding while exercising, with the exception of wearing sports bras. You can read this article if you are unsure about the safety of binding. See the PDF below for more facts about safety and risks.
How do you wear chest binders correctly?
How do you wear chest binders correctly?
With binding garments, be sure to follow the correct sizing from the place you purchase one. Measure yourself accurately according to the size guides. When wearing a binder, you should be able to breathe comfortably and not be in pain. It is generally suggested to not wear a binder for more than 8 hours a day and to take one entire day off per week. After removing a binder, you should take several deep breaths to check for pain and do some stretches to move your upper body muscles that were restricted.
There is no consistent data on chest binding while exercising. It is generally recommended by physicians to not wear one when exercising; however, gc2b recommends wearing a larger binder if needed, or wear a sports bra. Be sure to follow manufacturing instructions on cleaning your binder to avoid any skin infections. Here is an instructional video on Chest Binding: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PpBQfKrk3w. You can learn more about safe binding from Pride in Practice, WebMd, and gc2b.
Where to get chest binders (free or purchase):
Where to get chest binders (free or purchase):
Clock, Inc - Davenport
Genderbands - temporarily closed applications
Learn how to be a supportive Ally
Learn how to be a supportive Ally
Safe-Zone Training Curriculum - the Safe Zone Project also has a lot of resources for learning more about the community
Self-guided online courses (may cost money)
For an updated version of this training, contact krystyna.kaminski@tipton.k12.ia.us.
Safe Schools Academy - Professional development opportunities/courses. Topics include issues impacting school climate with an emphasis on LGBTQ students.
GLSEN Safe Space Kit - a guide to being an Ally to LGBT+ students
Trans What? - a collection of articles for aspiring transgender allies
Parent & Family Guidebook from Iowa Safe Schools
If you're looking for tips or guidance on how to best support the LGBTQ+ youth in your life, this is the resource for you! Request your copy by emailing dana@iowasafeschools.org.
Core Vocabulary
Core Vocabulary
LGBT+ Core vocabulay.pdfThe Genderbread Person
The Genderbread Person
GenderBread Person V5.pdfChest Binder Safety
Chest Binder Safety
Binder Safety.pdfPage updated
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