SEND & LGBTQ: How to help SEND youngsters understand LGBTQ+

(As featured at SAYiT conference on SEND & LGBTQ+).

Here you’ll find books, videos and links to help children and young people, especially those with SEND, to understand LGBTQ+ identities.

The book list has recommended developmental ages so that you can find the perfect books for your needs.

Books for SEND & LGBTQ+ themes:

LGBTQ+ YouTubers, some who have SEND:

Are there any good SEND + LGBTQ TikToks?

No. Not really. TikTok videos are too short and don’t make great resources for LGBTQ+ awareness. TikTok also has a lot of rubbish to wade through, including on the #LGBTQ hashtag.

If you really must use TikTok to reach a student, then search for the #comingout hash tag as this is a ‘least dreadful’ place to start. Even still, a lot of the videos appear staged and it’s hard to know how authentic they are.

Talking about LGBTQ with autistic young people

Check out the LGBTQ+ YouTubers download: You’ll find tips to help you discuss LGBTQ+ with young people on the autistic spectum.

Many autistic students use YouTube anyway. So, you are using a resource that they are likely to engage with. The key difference is that you are curating the content to eliminate unhelpful content.

Tips in the YouTube download include:

• Preparation
• Filtering systems
• Talking about bullying
• Talking about comments and trolls
• Swearing

What do the letters mean in LGBTQ+?

• Lesbian: I am a woman who is attracted to other women.
• Gay: I am a man who is attracted to other men.
• Bisexual: I am attracted to both men and women.
• Transgender: My gender identity is different to the one I was given at birth.
• Queer: An umbrella term that covers all of the sexualities and genders in LGBTQ+.
• Questioning: I’m not yet sure about my sexuality or gender identity.
• Intersex: My body isn’t definately male or female perhaps because of my private parts or chromosomes.
• Asexual: I’m not sexually attracted to people of anyone.
• Aromantic: I’m not romantically attracted to anyone (I may also be asexual).
• Pansexual: I’m attracted to people of all sexes and genders.

The Genderbread Person

This great visual resource helps youngsters understand identity, sexual orientation, sex as well as sexual attraction.

It includes short lesson plans. You’ll find the genderbread person here or via www.genderbread.org.

Need more info on Trans?

• To ask questions or get support, please get in touch.