In the last decade transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals have become increasingly visible in our families, culture, and public discourse. This course explores the concept of gender identity for people who are curious about the nature of gender, the process of gender affirmation, or changing social dynamics. Participants will learn the unique challenges faced by the TGNC population as well as develop the skills to build inclusive spaces in all spheres of their life. This course was developed under the Joycelyn Elders Chair in Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota.

What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)?
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What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)?

Instructor: Michael W. Ross
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There are 7 modules in this course
In the last decade transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals have become increasingly visible in our families and culture. This course explores the concept of gender identity for people who are interested in the nature of gender, the process of gender affirmation, or changing social dynamics. Participants will learn the unique challenges faced by individuals within the TGNC population as well as develop the skills to build inclusive spaces in all spheres of their life. Each module will contain original video content, readings, and other multimedia to enhance the learning experience. Throughout the course, participants will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge via short multiple choice quizzes and/or discussion sections that challenge you to reflect on your learning experiences. This course was developed under the Joycelyn Elders Chair in Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota.
What's included
1 video1 reading
1 video•Total 4 minutes
- Welcome Message - Dr. Eli Coleman•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Pre-Assessment•10 minutes
Gender identity is a wide spectrum beyond the binary of male and female. Each and every one of us has a gender identity innate to our experience as humans. While gender is all around us, much remains unknown about the development of gender identity. This module introduces the basics of gender and explores how gender affects our daily lives.
What's included
11 videos18 readings3 assignments
11 videos•Total 53 minutes
- Introduction to Gender Identity - Nova Bradford•1 minute
- Gender Identity - Dr. Katie Spencer•5 minutes
- Gender Queer - Dr. G. Zachariah White•9 minutes
- Pronouns - Nova Bradford•1 minute
- Importance of Language - Dr. G. Zachariah White•1 minute
- Evolution's Rainbow - Dr. Joan Roughgarden•11 minutes
- "Should research focus on the genetic basis of transgender identities?" - Dr. Brian Rood•2 minutes
- Introduction to Dysphoria and Mental Health - Nova Bradford•2 minutes
- Gender Dysphoria - Dr. Katie Spencer•6 minutes
- History of TGNC People and Mental Illness - Cei Lambert•5 minutes
- Working with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Populations - Dr. G. Zachariah White•9 minutes
18 readings•Total 98 minutes
- Gender and Sexuality•5 minutes
- The Language of Gender•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- An Introduction to Transgender People•3 minutes
- Understanding Transgender People•5 minutes
- Understanding the Transgender Community•5 minutes
- Understanding Non-Binary People•5 minutes
- Gender Pronouns•2 minutes
- Why Pronouns Matter for Trans People•3 minutes
- Questionable Questions•10 minutes
- Pronoun Game•5 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Nature and sex redefined – we have never been binary•10 minutes
- Between the (Gender) Lines•20 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- American Psychological Association•5 minutes
- Probing the Complexities of Transgender Mental Health•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Terminology and Language•30 minutes
- Science of Gender•30 minutes
- Science of Gender and Mental Health•30 minutes
A collection of first-person narratives exploring the ups and downs of daily life as a transgender or gender nonconforming (TGNC) individual from several points of view.
What's included
14 videos3 readings
14 videos•Total 120 minutes
- Introduction to Digital Stories - Nova Bradford•1 minute
- This is Ben•12 minutes
- This is Leonardo•4 minutes
- This is Paula•13 minutes
- This is Maya•7 minutes
- This is Samwise•14 minutes
- This is CeCe•13 minutes
- This is Anne•7 minutes
- Our Story as Parents - Chris and Sarah•16 minutes
- Parenting, Family and Divorce - Paula Overby•9 minutes
- This is our family - Ben and Katrina-Marie•9 minutes
- Losing Friends and Keeping Friends - Chris, Sarah and Maya•8 minutes
- Dating before Transition - Maya•6 minutes
- My Spouse - Ben•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Transgender Oral History Project•20 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Parenting Non-Binary Kids•10 minutes
Developing a healthy gender is a lifelong process. For individuals that identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, the process of gender affirmation can take many forms as they age from children to older adults.
What's included
8 videos10 readings1 assignment
8 videos•Total 35 minutes
- Introduction to Gender Affirmation - Nova Bradford•0 minutes
- Gender Creative or Expansive Children - Dr. Dianne Berg•6 minutes
- Informed Consent and Adolescents - Dr. Dianne Berg•4 minutes
- Gender Affirming Medical Care for Youth - Dr. Eric Meininger•14 minutes
- Gender Dysphoria and Gender Affirmation - Dr. Brian Rood•3 minutes
- Medical Transition - Cei Lambert•5 minutes
- Aging and Transgender Populations - Phil Duran•2 minutes
- Coming out to Family - Ben•1 minute
10 readings•Total 70 minutes
- Supporting Gender Independent Children and Their Families•15 minutes
- The K-12 Binary•10 minutes
- Additional Resources (Children)•0 minutes
- Additional Resources (Youth)•0 minutes
- Here’s What Trans People Who Aren’t Medically Transitioning Want You To Know•10 minutes
- Truth and Transgender at 70•10 minutes
- The Challenge of Being Transgender in a Nursing Home•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- The Why, When, and How of Coming Out•5 minutes
- Coming Out Again, 10 Years Later•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Gender Affirmation: Children and Youth•30 minutes
From advocacy to sports, transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals have made significant contributions to our culture. Learn about the history of prominent TGNC individuals and movements while contributing to the discussion of how these figures (and many others) have been portrayed by the media.
What's included
7 videos13 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
7 videos•Total 24 minutes
- Introduction to Historical Roles, Media and Culture - Nova Bradford•2 minutes
- Black Excellence Tour - CeCe McDonald•4 minutes
- Brief History of Medical Care - Dr. Katie Spencer•4 minutes
- Personal Interest in History of LGBT Community - Anne•6 minutes
- Theater as Therapy - Dr. G. Zachariah White•4 minutes
- Media - Ben•3 minutes
- Trans Visibility - Samwise•2 minutes
13 readings•Total 124 minutes
- Transgender History in the United States•45 minutes
- S.T.A.R•5 minutes
- Jenner: 40 Years After Gold•20 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Andrea Jenkins•10 minutes
- Lee Mokobe•5 minutes
- Julia Serano•5 minutes
- Rae Spoon•6 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Transparent•3 minutes
- Janet Mock - "Revealing Caitlyn Jenner"•10 minutes
- Sense8•5 minutes
- Economics and the transgender community•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- History•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Visibility of Transgender Populations•10 minutes
Anti-transgender policy discussions from "Bathroom Bills" to open participation in the military have been on the forefront of national conversation for the last decade. This module will delve into the disparities that transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals face in society at large from healthcare to incarceration and discrimination.
What's included
21 videos29 readings7 assignments
21 videos•Total 74 minutes
- Introduction to Society and Public Policy in the United States - Nova Bradford•1 minute
- Discrimination and Bathroom Policies - Dr. Joan Roughgarden•3 minutes
- Employee Benefits and Access to Care - Phil Duran•4 minutes
- Youth, Schools and Legal Issues - Phil Duran•3 minutes
- Legal Barriers and Identity Documents - Phil Duran•4 minutes
- Title IX - Phil Duran•1 minute
- Insurance and ACA - Samwise•2 minutes
- Policy and Patients - Dr. Eric Meininger•3 minutes
- Intersectionality - CeCe McDonald•10 minutes
- Machismo - Dr. Leonaro Candelario•2 minutes
- Puerto Rico and Gender - Dr. Leonardo Candelario•2 minutes
- Culture Competency and Working with Homeless Transgender Youth - Avenues for Homeless Youth•7 minutes
- Transphobia, Homophobia and Discrimination - Avenues for Homeless Youth•8 minutes
- Transphobia - Phil Duran•2 minutes
- Prison Industrial Complex - CeCe McDonald•4 minutes
- Introduction to Healthcare Disparities for Transgender Populations - Nova Bradford•2 minutes
- HIV in Transgender Populations - Dr. Brian Rood•4 minutes
- Medical Transition and Mental Health - Samwise•7 minutes
- Out of Pocket Costs - Phil Duran•1 minute
- Healthcare Disparities for Youth - Dr. Eric Meininger•2 minutes
- Military Experience - Anne•2 minutes
29 readings•Total 335 minutes
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver•15 minutes
- 2015 U.S Transgender Survey•20 minutes
- Intersectionality Fact Sheet•10 minutes
- It's Incredibly Scary to Be a Transgender Woman of Color Right Now•10 minutes
- Transgender Latina Immigrants in U.S. Societies•45 minutes
- Being Disabled and Transgender•20 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Housing & Homelessness•5 minutes
- "I Can't Keep Living Like This"•10 minutes
- The Transgender Crucible•30 minutes
- Violence Against the Transgender Community in 2017•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- 'That's my sister': transgender life in jail and on the street•8 minutes
- CeCe McDonald and A Roadmap for Change•10 minutes
- Is A Georgia Prison Trying To Cover Up The Rape Of A Transgender Woman?•30 minutes
- A Grim Reminder: Solitary Confinement is Deadly for Trans Folks•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Transgender Healthcare Equality•6 minutes
- Transgender People Still Experience Barriers to Healthcare•10 minutes
- Southern Comfort•10 minutes
- Transgender health care horror stories•6 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Being Transgender in the Military - Aaron Belkin•10 minutes
- Transgender, at War and in Love•10 minutes
- Transgender National Guard Troops - Minnesota•10 minutes
- Transgender Service Members Can Now Serve Openly, Carter Announces•10 minutes
- Transgender Military in the United States•10 minutes
- The VA Just Dealt a Big Blow to Transgender Veterans•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•10 minutes
7 assignments•Total 210 minutes
- Pop Quiz!•30 minutes
- Legal Policy•30 minutes
- Intersectionality•30 minutes
- Homelessness•30 minutes
- Incareceration•30 minutes
- Transgender Healthcare•30 minutes
- Military Personnel•30 minutes
Creating inclusive spaces for transgender populations can be done with positive awareness. From becoming an actionable ally to helping workplace and school transition spaces to promoting transgender awareness and acceptance will bring the inclusiveness all populations and not just those who are different from ourselves.
What's included
13 videos9 readings3 assignments1 peer review
13 videos•Total 46 minutes
- Introduction to Creating Inclusive Spaces for Trans People - Nova Bradford•1 minute
- Being an Ally and Advocate - Dr. Katie Spencer•3 minutes
- Transition in the Workplace - Ben•4 minutes
- Transition in the Workplace - Paula Overby•5 minutes
- Gender Inclusive Spaces in Schools - Phil Duran•2 minutes
- Host Home Experience - Avenues for Homeless Youth•5 minutes
- Inclusive Spaces for Homeless Transgender Youth - Avenues for Homeless Youth•4 minutes
- Inclusive Clinics - Samwise•3 minutes
- Public Inclusive Spaces - Cei Lambert•5 minutes
- Looking Forward - Paula Overby•2 minutes
- TGNC Rights - Phil Duran•2 minutes
- Thinking Outside the Box - Avenues for Homeless Youth•6 minutes
- Uplifting Others - CeCe McDonald•4 minutes
9 readings•Total 65 minutes
- Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life: A Guide to Being a Good Ally•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Transgender Visibility in the Workplace•10 minutes
- At Work in Two Genders•10 minutes
- Trans Toolkit for Employers•10 minutes
- Gender Inclusive Schools Toolkit•10 minutes
- 10 Things: Creating Inclusive Healthcare Environments for LGBT People•10 minutes
- Additional Resources•0 minutes
- Post-Assessment•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Allydom•30 minutes
- Gender in the Workplace•30 minutes
- Inclusive Spaces•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Creating Inclusive Spaces and Enviroments•60 minutes
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