Sex/Gender Training Campus Program at Yangtze River Delta
The proceeds from 2017 ShanghaiPRIDE raffles will go to the GLCAC Sex/Gender Training Campus Program at Yangtze River Delta in July 2017. GLCAC aims to raise awareness and understanding of gender equality and sexual identity issues among educators, in order to facilitate sex/gender and LGBT education for students, so as to create a nurturing, accepting, and friendly environment for all LGBT youth in campus.
About GLCAC Sex/Gender Equality Education Training Program
Introduction
LGBT students encounter numerous problems on campus, such as bullying, emotional stress, suicidal thoughts, etc. Although LGBT-friendly educators do want to help their LGBT students to find a way to continue find a way to be successful at school despite the prejudice they face; many educators have no idea on what to do. Our research shows that 77% of LGBT respondents were victims of bullying on campus. Sexual harrassment is common in campus today. The prevalence of anti LGBT sentiment, the continued harassment and marginalization of LGBT students highlights thwe need for gender identity, sexual identity and sex/gender education is necessary. No one was born to hate; we learn to hate because of the stereotypes and bias that we absorb through the media we consume, the things our elders say to us and the things we say to each other wherever we go. As people grow up, they unconsciously and uncritically accept gender stereotypes and bias and this influences how they see the world for better or worse. Such prejudice should be stopped by promoting proper sex/gender education on campus.
Our goal is to build up educators’ awareness and knowledge on sex/gender and LGBT issues so that they can be effective in facilitating sex/gender education on campus, so as to nurture a supportive and accepting campus environment for LGBT youth.
The whole project consists of introductory training camps, continued follow-up support, advanced training camps, training of trainer camps, educators conference, and etc. Every year there are 3-4 introductory training camps for educators to learn about gender and queer theories, sexual minority groups, LGBT groups on campus and the challenges they are facing. We also explore methodology for sex/gender education, and develop educators’ perspective and sensitivity on sex/gender when handling student issues. After these workshops, we provide follow-up support for educators by materials sharing, guidance and review sessions, group discussions, connecting to relevant resources, and on-site visits. We also hold advanced training camps once a year for educators so they can share their experiences and facilitate netwokring among educators.
Target Audience
| Target Groups benefitted directly or indirectly | Group Size |
| Front-line educators in Middle Schools
(Our work will focus on those who teach mental health, sex/gender education, biology, art, P.E. and school counselors. They will be trained to be sex/gender education lecturers and trainers.) |
90 people |
| Leaders of Middle Schools
(School Leaders are people in the school who hold leadership positions such as curriculum directors, principals, and vice principals. They will provide support to the front-line educators.) |
10 people |
| Middle School Students receiving sex/gender and LGBT education | at least 3000 people |
Stages of the Project
Stage One: Exploration and Piloting (2015-2016)
This is the first-ever program in China that deals with issues of sex/gender and gender diversity education in schools. We drew experience from LGBT and gender equality education programs from Taiwan and Australia to guide us in building our own program. It took two years to research and select the methodology that we would use for sex/gender education, to decide which cities to pilot the program, and develop the content and methods to train educators. The program was launched in Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Nanjing. Each training session lasted two days. Over 200 primary and middle school educators participated. After the training, we organized more than 60 follow up visits and dozens of sharing sessions on sex/gender issues with educators in different cities.
Stage Two: Enhancements and Expansions (2017-2018)
The program is currently at its second stage. While we will continue to develop and improve localized sex/gender education programs in Wuhan and Guangzhou, we also kick started the program in Shanghai, Changsha, and Yunnan and are preparing for launching the program in other cities and regions. In order to sustain the effectiveness of the program for educators after training, we will employ a full-time staff to provide effective and timely follow up support for educators. We target to train more than 280 educators after this stage, including at least 40 educators benefitted from the pilot program in Wuhan and Guangzhou. These educators will participate in improving, designing, and executing the program.
Our plan in 2017
- 1. Introductory Training Camps in 2017
| Time | City | Training Goal Target | Remarks |
| 2017.1 | Yunnan | 30 educators | 3-day participatory training/done |
| 2017.7 | Shanghai | 30 educators | 3-day participatory training |
| 2017.8 | Guangzhou | 30 educators | 3-day participatory training |
| 2017.12 | Wuhan | 30 educators | 3-day participatory training |
- 2. Middle School Oriented Sex/Gender Education
At least 50 out of 120 educators participating in the introductory training camps will host at least 2 instances of sex/gender and LGBT education. These can be lectures mixed with sex/gender education elements, dedicated lectures, or activities inside and outside campus.
- Support and Follow-up for Educators (September – December 2017)
Follow-up 1: Lectures on Sex/Gender and Diversity Education. (4 sessions a year, 25 eductors per session)
After the introductory training camps, we will choose topics based on educators’ interests and issues they face and host online or offline lectures and sharing sessions, in order to answer questions raised by the educators and help educators gain more knowledge on sex/gender topics. An offline session will be hosted in Guangzhou and Wuhan, while 2 online sessions will be hosted throughout the country. Educators can choose to join.
Follow-up 2: Resource Bank
We will prepare reference materials on theories, experience, tools, and manuals of sex/gender diversity education by translating foreign materials, authoring, inviting experts to author. We will then upload these materials to WeChat which serves as a self-learning platform and an experience sharing platform for educators.
Follow-up 3: Practice, Guidance, and Review.
We aim to achieve 18 guidance and review sessions of sex/gender education practised by at least 20 educators participated in the introductory training camps. Together with consultants, we will make suggestions before the educators host any sex/gender education activities, observe during the activities, and review the performance of the activities with the educators.
About Gay and Lesbian Campus Association of China
Gay and Lesbian Campus Association of China (GLCAC), was founded in 2006. We are the first non-governmental organization focusing on LGBT rights and LGBT-friendly environment on Chinese campuses. We advocate youth LGBT rights by facilitating youth community development, supporting educators on sex/gender education, and conducting research and making suggestions. Currently, we conduct our work mainly in cities and provinces such as Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shanghai, Nanchang, and Yunnan. GLCAC is run by 80 people including full-time employees, interns, and volunteers.
