The Public Training Series is great for people who want to learn more about a particular aspect of LGBTQ+ experience, such as Sexuality, Gender, Oppression & Joy, or Intersectionality. These sessions are useful for beginners and more advanced learners alike! Explore all of our offerings below.
96%said they learned information that will improve their professional performance
Regardless of previous knowledge, I think this session was incredibly informative and provided a deeper understanding of the different people we may interact with... a safe space where it is okay to be unsure or unfamiliar with the concepts.
What’s in a label? In this session, explore how labels are used, the blurry boundaries between them, and the ways they can both empower and hinder us.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
The US queer lexicon has developed in extraordinary ways, as it is both designed for visibility and must sometimes hide in plain sight; both broad (“queer”) and specific (“aroace homoflexible demigirl”); both changes rapidly and has a long history. This session will explore topics such as microlabels and label abolitionism, queer label policing, nonverbal communication and “signalling”, and online vs in-real-life queer culture. We will also use a critical lens to understand the ways in which queer identity and labels are impacted by colonialism and white supremacy.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
How can we become advocates within our own organizations – or even with partner organizations – to identify and resolve barriers to equity and inclusion? This session will discuss ways to approach difficult conversations about institutional barriers with a positive, open attitude that fosters collaboration instead of putting people on the defensive. We will offer strategies for centering constituent voices without creating undue burden, explaining complex concepts in simple ways, and fostering beneficial relationships with stakeholders. We will also explore strategies for coalition building and analyzing the structure of highly complex organizations.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Learn the basics of sexual and romantic orientation, including LGBQ+ identities, the asexual spectrum, ways to model attraction, and types of attraction beyond sexual and romantic.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
What does a “correct” or “normal” family look like? This session will examine society’s expectations for what relationships and family should be, covering such topics as division of labor, allonormativity, marriage, (non-)monogamy, adoption, and more.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Allyship has become a buzzword that is often associated with performative actions rather than productive advocacy efforts. This workshop will be an opportunity to conceptualize decision-making for preventing and responding to instances of harm and for considering how identities and privilege contribute to our efforts. Be prepared to discuss concrete strategies and practice using some of the concepts discussed during the workshop. All experience levels are welcome.
Facilitator: Maureen Wood
Explore intersectionality and the ways it can be used to understand our society and ourselves. We will talk about what intersectionality is, the ways it shows up in society and in our conceptions of self, why activism needs to be intersectional, and other ways of understanding how we view ourselves.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Higher education - it’s the great equalizer, right? As it turns out, not everyone has the same chance of succeeding during & after college. This session will discuss a wide variety of factors that make it more difficult for marginalized people (including queer people) to succeed in higher education.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
LGBTQ+ healthcare is often an enigma for those who have yet to study it. Uninformed or misinformed providers may discriminate against, provide poor quality care to, misdiagnose, or microaggress their patients. This session will work through a number of misconceptions about queer healthcare, the history of the medical establishment’s relationship with queer people, and ways to navigate this complex landscape as someone who provides support to queer people - either as a provider, or as family or friends.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Learn the basics of gender identity and expression, and the ways they relate to our bodies. Subjects covered include transgender and nonbinary identities, gender expression and androgyny, the basics of gender transition including name and pronoun changes, and intersex variations.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Examine the personal experiences of LGBTQ+ people, including systemic oppression and discrimination, but also queer joy. Topics discussed will include family conflict, gatekeeping, the legal landscape, and intersectional oppression; as well as gender euphoria, media representation, and queer relationships.
What do anime, Star Wars, and memes have to do with LGBTQ+ issues? We’ll explore the ways that homophobia and transphobia can spread in online spaces by examining the word “trap” used as a slur against transgender women. We’ll also talk about ways that you can advocate for yourself and others online.
This workshop will provide information about the unique mental health needs that exist within the LGBTQ+ Community. Topics for discussion include resources and advocacy efforts to support the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ students and create gender and sexuality affirming environments.
Facilitator: Maureen Wood & Michael Block
How is IU supporting its queer students, faculty, and staff? Where is there room to improve, and what is already being done well? We’ll explore the status of LGBTQ+ livelihood at IU, both positives and negatives. This session is co-sponsored by the Queer Student Union Advocacy Committee.
Facilitator: Katelyn King
Thanks so much for offering the information in such a clear, straightforward, and engaging way. That’s not easy to do...and you really succeeded. I have a young teen who just shared that they are transgender...Your warmth and comfort with the topic was really refreshing and reassuring.
I am Ukrainian and I study Theology in Greece...You give us the opportunity to learn how we must live in the world of diversity in order to build a peaceful future together...I am interested in these issues not only because I belong to LGBTQ+, but also because as a theologian I would like to look at these issues later in a theological perspective.
The Public Training Series is just the beginning! Visit our main Training page to learn about all of our educational offerings.
