Trans Student Educational Resources

Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER) is a United States-based organization that seeks to promote the wellbeing of transgender youth. It was founded in 2011 by activists Alex Sennello and Eli Erlick. It is the only national organization led by transgender youth.[1]

Trans Student Educational Resources
Founded2011
FoundersEli Erlick
Alex Sennello
TypeEducational
Location
  • United States
Websitewww.transstudent.org

TSER provides resources to the public on how to support trans students, such as "safe schools" trainings for teachers, online infographics, and workshops at conferences.[2][3] It is most notable for its members' work in media focused on transgender educational justice.[4][5][6][7]

Mission

TSER's mission statement reads,

Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment. In addition to our focus on creating a more trans-friendly education system, our mission is to educate the public and teach trans activists how to be effective organizers. We believe that justice for trans and gender nonconforming youth is contingent on an intersectional framework of activism. Ending oppression is a long-term process that can only be achieved through collaborative action.[8]

History

Founded in 2011 by two 16-year-old trans women, Trans Student Educational Resources began as an effort to start transgender policies in school districts in the United States and get more young trans people involved in activism. At that time, there were very few enumerated anti-discrimination policies in place around the country and there was a lack of visual resources on transgender issues. In 2012, TSER began its infographic series, which expanded its audience and member participation.[9] TSER is also involved in the organizing of the annual Transgender Day of Visibility - a worldwide effort to raise promote the wellbeing of transgender people and to celebrate their successes.[10][11][12]

Work

In 2012, TSER began publishing transgender-related infographics. Following its success, the organization released dozens more.[13] According to director Eli Erlick, TSER's graphics have been publicized by millions of blogs, web sites, and organizations and have been influential in educating the public on transgender issues.[1] TSER staff have focused on their mission statement of "advocacy and empowerment"[14] through speaking at conferences[3][15] and providing information to those that need it.[16]

TSER also engages in trans youth leadership development, trainings for organizations, teachers, and students, media advocacy, and the creation of a scholarship program for trans students.[17][18][19] In 2014, multiple members of TSER advocated in media for trans-inclusivity at women's colleges.[20][21]

The Gender Unicorn

TSER created the Gender Unicorn[22] in 2014 to describe the spectrums of gender and sexuality. It was quickly picked up by schools, colleges, and universities across the world and has been translated into over a dozen languages.

In 2016 it was criticized by conservative Christians, such as blogger Matt Walsh at Blaze Media and evangelist Franklin Graham, based on misunderstandings and/or misrepresentations of what schools in Charlotte, North Carolina were doing.[23][24][25] In 2017, the Gender Unicorn was discussed in the Senate of Canada during debate regarding Bill C-16.[26][27]

Name

In 2014, the organization changed its name from Trans Student Equality Resources to Trans Student Educational Resources, citing that equality is "not enough" for the transgender community.[28]

See also

References
  1. "Changing Gender, Changing School". The Story. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  2. "Trans Student Educational Resources - What We Do". Transstudent.org. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  3. http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/lifeworks/pages/119/attachments/original/1381951907/MOP_FINAL_PROGRAM.pdf?1381951907
  4. "uprisingradio.org » How Conservative Homophobic Forces Are Taking Aim At California's New Law Supporting Transgender Students". Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  5. "LGBT Students Can Face Long Road to Financial Aid - US News and World Report". Usnews.com. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  6. Sennello, Alex (2013-04-11). "My story: I've been an outcast at school because I'm transgender | Alex Sennello". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  7. "SBS Dateline | Crossover Kids". Sbs.com.au. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  8. http://transstudent.org/mission
  9. "Changing Gender, Changing School". The Story.
  10. "Trans Student Educational Resources - Transgender Day of Visibility". Transstudent.org. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  11. "California transgender students have new law but still face old struggles". Dailynews.com. 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  12. "Fighting for Transgender Teen Rights". Huffington Post Live. 2013-11-20. Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
  13. "Trans Student Educational Resources - Infographics". Transstudent.org. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  14. "Trans Student Educational Resources - Mission Statement". Transstudent.org. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  15. https://www.genderspectrum.org/images/stories/pdf/2013gspwprogram.pdf
  16. "Trans Student Educational Resources - What We Do". Transstudent.org. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  17. "Meet The Trans Teen Who Just Won $25K to Make Schools Trans-Inclusive". www.advocate.com. 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  18. "Videos". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  19. "Services – Trans Student Educational Resources". Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  20. "Videos". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  21. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/womens-colleges-address-transgender-applicants
  22. "The Gender Unicorn – Trans Student Educational Resources". Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  23. "Conservatives Are Really Scared Of This Purple 'Gender Unicorn'". Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  24. Binkowski, Brooke (2016-08-15). "Charlotte, North Carolina, Schools 'Eliminate Gender Entirely'?". Snopes. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  25. https://www.gospelherald.com/articles/65847/20160809/franklin-graham-warns-parents-lgbt-community-attempting-to-brainwash-children-with-gender-unicorn.htm
  26. Ling, Justin (2017-05-17). "Canada's transgender rights bill could become law before the Summer, despite some controversial opponents". Vice News. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  27. Torontoist (2017-05-20). "I Was in the Room While Jordan Peterson and Senators Debated My Human Rights". Torontoist. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  28. "Why Equality Isn't Enough and Our New Name – Trans Student Educational Resources". Retrieved 2019-06-28.
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