5 top tips for lgbtq+ inclusion
These 5 top tips have been developed by the Rainbow Power Youth Council.
If you’d like to learn more about Rainbow Power and their social action, please click here.
Check Name
- Provide a form & verbal option (to suit YP needs) to capture the client’s chosen name
- If the information is written, don’t forget to ask how to pronounce their name if you’re not sure
- Please accept the client’s response
- Record their preferred name on your database / system. If the name has not been legally changed – you can use the known as options
- Some trans young people explore different names until they find a name they are completely comfortable with – it is therefore helpful to check in at each appointment
SAFEGUARDING ALERT – it is essential to check when and where you can use their name as not everyone is out at home.
Please click here to access further information about names and pronouns
Check Pronouns
- Don’t make gender and therefore pronoun assumptions based on appearance
- People use different pronouns such as: she/her, he/him, they/them, he/they and so on
- Provide a form & verbal option (to suit YP needs) to capture the client’s pronouns
- If the information is written and you are unfamiliar with a pronoun, don’t forget to ask how to pronounce it
- Ask their most favoured if the client uses a mixture such as he/they
- Please accept the client’s response
- Some trans young people explore different pronouns until they find pronouns they are completely comfortable with – it is therefore helpful to check in at each appointment
SAFEGUARDING ALERT – it is essential check when and where can use their pronouns as not everyone is out at home.
Please click here to access further information about names and pronouns
Listen!
- Ensure your approach is open minded
- Ensure your approach is non-judgemental
- If you don’t understand something relating to LGBTQ+ identities please research it
- Remember this is the young person’s identity – avoid really ‘personal questions’ and only ask questions relevant to your work with them
If you get name or pronouns wrong…
- Apologise and move on
- Learn from your mistakes
Young people are often placed in extremely uncomfortable situations where a professional may accidently misgender them and then make a huge deal with a massive, drawn out apology that ends up bringing more attention to the situation then the initial mistake.
Another common but unhelpful response is when professionals apologise and then pause/wait rather than moving on…this puts the young person in a position of having to say “that’s ok” which is extremely uncomfortable.
The most respectful way to deal with an unintentional error is to apologise and move on.
“David…apologies, Sarah we need to fill in this form for the summer youth programme…”
make us visible
- Consider wearing an ally or LGBT badge
- Consider wearing a rainbow lanyard
- Share your pronouns (this can be on your email signature, via a badge, when you introduce yourself and so on)
- Ensure any displays (for example in youth centres) are LGBT inclusive
- Check the language is inclusive on any forms you use
Please support our work and help us achieve LGBTQ+ equality through inclusion.
