This brief course is designed to offer you an introduction to gender diversity and trans identity, help you understand the current political attack on trans people and the misinformation that is part of that attack, and train you in how to create safety and belonging for trans people in UU congregations in this moment.
Course details
This on-demand course is composed of three sessions, each of which is composed of a 25- to 35-minute video by Alex Kapitan and accompanying resources.
- Session 1: Trans 101 (25 min)
This session covers what it means to think of gender as a spectrum rather than as a binary, some of the many different ways trans people experience and describe their identities, some important pitfalls to avoid in how you think about and talk about trans folks, and how embracing and celebrating gender diversity helps all of us get free. - Session 2: What You Need to Know About the Anti-Trans Movement (34 min)
This session provides an overview of the anti-trans political movement, where it came from, and some of the threats that trans people in the U.S. are currently facing, then offers facts to counter some of the worst misinformation that is a central part of the anti-trans movement’s tactics to erode public support for trans people. - Session 3: How to Ensure Your Congregation Is Truly Trans Welcoming (35 min)
This session covers both basic and deeper actions that are needed in order for UU congregations to uphold their commitment to be Welcoming Congregations and offer spaces of safety and belonging to trans people and our families in this moment, and what you can do to help.
This course is offered on a sliding scale of $10-$50 for individuals, depending on your resources. To purchase the course for a group or congregation, please contact us to discuss an equitable fee. Half of every purchase of this course will be donated to the Pink Haven Coalition, which works to resource trans people in crisis due to current political and legal threats.
Your Instructor
Alex (ze/per) is a community minister, educator, consultant, and activist. A trans and queer lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Alex does interfaith LGBTQ work and supports congregations in becoming places of radical welcome for all. Ze previously worked at the national headquarters of the Unitarian Universalist Association supporting the Welcoming Congregation program, anti-racism programming, and social justice campaigns, and also served on the steering committee for TRUUsT, an organization of trans UU religious professionals. Ze is a co-founder of the Transforming Hearts Collective.