Our Mission:

Gender Spectrum’s mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.

Our Vision:

We envision a world that is affirming and inclusive of children and teens of all genders.

Our Approach:

The Three Dimensions of Gender, as developed by Gender Spectrum founder Stephanie Brill is heralded as the standard-bearer for gender definition across academia and praxis. This concept guides Gender Spectrum’s work to create a more inclusive world for gender-diverse children and teens. Each dimension is a spectrum. Click below to learn more about the three dimensions!

  • This includes:

    • Our own body.

    • How society genders bodies.

    • How others interact with us based on our body.

  • This includes:

    • The term we use to convey our gender identity based on our own sense of self.

      • Gender identities can be binary (man/woman), non-binary (genderqueer, etc.) and ungendered (agender, etc.).

      • The meaning of any identity may differ from individual to individual.

    • Gender identity can change over time as words change and develop, and as an individual discovers more possibilities.

      • History shows us that many societies have seen, and continue to see, gender as a spectrum.

    • Gender identity can correspond to, or differ from, the gender an individual is assigned at birth.

  • This includes:

    • How we present our gender to the world.

      • Gender expression: how we communicate our gender through aspects of our expression such as clothing, hair, accessories and mannerisms. We cannot assume someone's gender identity from their gender expression.

    • How individuals, society, culture and community perceive, interact with, and try to shape our gender.

    • Gender roles and expression.

      • These are often so entrenched in culture and society that it is hard to imagine things another way - this is also how norms become subtly enforced.

    • How society uses these roles and expectations to enforce gender norms.

Our History:

Established in 2006, Gender Spectrum emerged as a response to the limited resources and support available for families and educators interacting with gender-expansive children and teens. We began as the first national transgender parent support group and quickly expanded to offer the first trainings for California elementary and pre-schools transgender & gender-expansive children. One year later in 2007, Gender Spectrum incorporated after creating the first Family Conference for caregivers of gender-diverse children & teens. Today, our work continues to expand nationally and internationally, serving 48 states, DC, and 15 countries.

We recognized the urgent need for comprehensive resources, education, and support for professionals, families, and communities navigating the complexities of gender identity and expression. Over the years, we have tirelessly advocated for gender-inclusive policies and practices, worked closely with professionals to enhance their understanding and skills, and empowered families with the knowledge and support they need. Our annual Professionals' Symposium and Family Conference have become beacons of learning, connection, and growth. With a commitment to accessibility, our online programming ensures that our resources reach individuals everywhere. Join us as we continue to foster inclusivity, understanding, and equity, creating a world where everyone can thrive authentically.

Our Values and Way of Working

Impact

We have an uncompromising focus on impact. We strive to succeed because we know that our work can not only improve society but transform lives.We take an evidence and research-driven approach to delivery of our services. We measure our effectiveness and alter course when needed in order to create more effective change.

Excellence

A focus on excellence means that we strive to deliver leading-edge and innovative trainings and products, engage with the utmost professionalism, and approach our communications with mindfulness and forethought. We value the ongoing research behind wellbeing, and we prioritize evidence-informed models and interventions.

Respect

Our approach to greater gender inclusivity is through education, which is impossible without respect. Therefore, we value all for who they are. We believe in treating one another well, and we recognize the humanity in all.

Compassion

We start with the assumption that adults want the gender-diverse children in their lives to thrive, and we commit to meeting those adults where they are in their own understandings of gender, gently guiding them on paths toward greater understanding. We recognize that time, mistakes, and missteps are part of growth and feel that as long as everyone at the table believes in the humanity of everyone else, then generosity and kindness are key to our vision.

Access

Gender-diverse children are everywhere; so it is important that the resources we develop are accessible to everyone. We are committed to identifying any unintentional barriers to access we might be erecting, and ensuring – among other things – that lack of representation, voice, perspective, accommodation, or analysis do not stand in the way of our offerings being seen as valuable to all.

Inclusion

Our offerings are strongest when they are developed in community, in collaboration, and with a diversity of experiences, not the least of which being the perspectives and first-hand experiences of gender-diverse youth. We continue to learn from transgender and gender-expansive communities in order to align our offerings with best practices. Our offerings are driven by and responsive to community needs and feedback.