Supporting Queer & Transgender Online Learners: Understanding Anti-DEI & LGBTQ+ Legislation

 Please Note: While attending the webinar live is free for OLC members and non-members, on-demand recordings will be available post-webinar for Professional and Institutional Members only. Consider becoming an OLC member for access to these and many other great benefits!

**This webinar is part of the OLC Accelerate 2024 Best-in-Track webinar series!**

Since 2022, legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community have more than doubled, with laws introduced in at least 47 states targeting queer and transgender individuals, particularly in education. These measures, such as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” laws and anti-trans bills in Texas, have created a national crisis impacting safety, belonging, and mental health. According to the Trevor Project, nearly one in three LGBTQ+ youth report consistently poor mental health due to these policies. Educators face additional barriers, with many constrained by personal, institutional, or community opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusion, compounded by the threat of legal repercussions. These challenges demand systemic change to foster inclusive, safe educational environments that support all learners and educators alike.

This webinar provides an overview of the current legislative and social climate, emphasizing its implications for online education and the need for inclusive pedagogical practices. Participants will explore strategies to support queer and transgender learners, including building awareness, advocating for institutional change, and implementing policies that reflect research-backed, inclusive practices. The session will highlight the importance of embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion into institutional culture, showcasing its benefits for the safety and well-being of all students. By fostering understanding and celebration of queer and trans identities, educators can create thriving learning environments that promote broader systemic change.

Key Takeaways:

As a result of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

  • Locate and access resources that will allow them to better support their queer and transgender learners
  • Interpret the impacts of legislation as they relate to their practice
  • Identify concrete action steps to take post-webinar

Intended Audience: 

Faculty, educators, instructional designers, and administrators

Speaker Bio

 

Arrow Hill
Program Coordinator for Community and Leadership Development, supporting LGBTQIA+ Student Advising – Dartmouth College

Arrow Hill (they/he) is a Program Coordinator for Community and Leadership Development in the Office of Pluralism and Leadership at Dartmouth College and supports LGBTQIA+ Student Advising. Arrow is a proud queer and trans person, and a recent graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Their professional and academic work has focused on human development and the intersections of identity, power, and justice in education. They completed their Bachelor’s at Mount Holyoke College, where they majored in Psychology, minored in English, and obtained both a certificate in Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies and a nexus in Educational Policy and Practice. They are passionate about supporting and uplifting queer, trans, and/or gender-expansive learners in and out of the classroom. Arrow was born and raised in upstate New York. Beyond work, they are a synchronized swimmer of 15 years, and they love to craft, read, write, and explore with their dog Bella.