Description
The Intersections of Race, Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation
This 15‑hour NEA Blended Learning facilitated course is designed for all school personnel and offers a deep exploration of how race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation intersect to shape students’ lived experiences. Participants will examine the relationships and commonalities among these identities, learn key definitions, and analyze how intersectionality influences the challenges and opportunities students encounter in school.
Through research, discussion, and reflective practice, the course highlights how overlapping marginalized identities—particularly for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students—can compound systemic barriers. Participants will conclude the course by developing a concrete action plan to support students who navigate multiple forms of marginalization and to foster more equitable, affirming school environments.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
▪ Define race, gender, and sexual orientation
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Build a shared understanding of foundational concepts.
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Clarify distinctions between identity categories and how they interact
▪ Describe the impact that intersecting social identities have on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people
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Examine how overlapping identities shape experiences of bias, belonging, and opportunity.
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Explore real‑world examples and student narratives
▪ Explain the difference between systemic oppression and systemic privilege
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Understand how systems advantage some groups while disadvantaging others.
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Connect these concepts to school structures, policies, and practices
▪ Develop a plan to support students who, because of their intersecting identities, often face systemic barriers and disadvantage
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Identify strategies to reduce harm and increase belonging.
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Create actionable steps to strengthen equity and inclusion in your school community.
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