Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Conference 2024
(Maine AHPERD)
Lex is facilitating his workshops, “Trans in Athletics: Inclusion & ‘Fairness’?” and ““ at The Maine AHPERD Conference on November 4th and 4th, 2024.
Conference information here.
Trans in Athletics: Inclusion and What Does it Mean to be ‘Fair’?
Audience: Coaches / PE
Date: Monday, November 4th
Time: 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Misinformation and disinformation are driving fear and discrimination of trans athletes, primarily transfeminine people. Learn how to approach the “debate” based on current legal, medical, and scientific knowledge, dismantling two core misconceptions, which are rooted in transmysogynoir and cissexism. Leave this session with tools to engage in dialogue on the “debate”, in addition to best practices for supporting and advocating for non-binary, trans, and intersex athletes at individual and institutional levels.
In athletics, over half of LGBTQIA+ individuals do not feel safe or supported by their coaches, trainers, and teammates (GLSEN, 2021). It is critical that every individual in athletics has access to the current scientific, legal, social, and medical research that supports the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports.
We must intentionally cultivate athletic spaces that are welcoming, safe, and supportive of LGBTQ+ people. This requires us to have foundational knowledge/language to be able to engage in the conversation, paired with tangible tools and best practices that we can use to be allies in action. This workshop equips participants with the knowledge and the tools needed to effectively create affirming spaces within athletics to better support their LGBTQ+ athletes and peers.
Session Goals:
Understand assumptions, interactions and barriers that uniquely impact the experience of non-binary, trans, gender diverse, and intersex people in athletics
Leave with peer reviewed resources/data and talking points to effectively engage in conversation on trans and intersex athletes that support inclusion (from a place of empowerment)
Further engage in and/or develop advocacy strategies for supporting non-binary, trans and intersex athletes
Some content areas include:
Break down of gender by separately addressing:
Gender identity
Gender expression
Sex assigned at birth / affirming sex
Defining cisgender and transgender
Defining gender roles and stereotypes and gender attribution
Objectives:
Gain an inclusive and affirming understanding of gender
Critically think about areas of improvement to better support non-binary and transgender people in athletics
Leave with next steps and tangible tools to put best practices into action in our communities
Takeaways:
Best practices on how to ensure that everyone is proactively cultivating an inclusive, affirming, and safe environment where all LGBTQIA+ people are welcomed and thriving
Creating Affirming Spaces: Understanding Gender, Sexuality, and Best Practices
Audience: All
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 8:00 am - 8:50 am
Having one supportive adult can save an LGBTQ+ person's life (The Trevor Project, 2019). Every individual should be equipped with the foundational knowledge and tools to be an ally, advocate, and supporter of all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Session attendees will gain foundational information on gender and sexuality, leaving with next steps and tangible tools to put best practices into action, to better support and advocate for queer, non-binary and transgender people in their communities. This workshop equips participants with the knowledge and the tools needed to effectively create affirming spaces within athletics, physical education, and beyond.
