Gender Spectrum's landmark publication "Principles for Gender Inclusive Puberty and Health Education" outlines the first-ever comprehensive approach to gender for puberty health educators.
The principles are designed to affirm and recognize all students so they can see themselves reflected in their classrooms and learn knowledge and skills associated with healthy behaviors. Gender-inclusive puberty and health education (PHE) benefits all students because it recognizes and affirms all students. All young people have a right to accurate information to make healthy, informed decisions about their bodies and their relationships.
Beyond their own unique development, this includes understanding the diversity of human experiences they will encounter as adults. Without access to gender-inclusive PHE, many students are left to believe that they are alone as they struggle to make sense of rapidly changing bodies and feelings. Nowhere is this potential for feeling alone and invisible more prevalent than among Transgender and other gender expansive students. But research shows that support for transgender students by schools and families is critical for their well-being. The power of schools to make a difference in young people’s lives by reflecting their experiences through curriculum and other supportive strategies cannot be overstated. Simply stated, gender-inclusive PHE is life-affirming for all students, and life-saving for some.
Read the Document
Read and download "Principles for Gender Inclusive Puberty and Health Education."
Read and download the Executive Summary.
See our video and find FAQs, resources and more below.
Our Partners
Gender Spectrum developed the principles for inclusive puberty and health education with valuable contributions from a diverse group of organizations that are recognized for their commitment to young people, including Advocates for Youth, Answer, GLSEN, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, Planned Parenthood and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).
Resources
We have collected a wealth of resources with background and tools you can use to help implement the principles of gender inclusive PHE.
FAQs for Educators, Parents and Youth
While the principles are primarily intended for puberty educators, the concepts can be helpful for parents, families and young people in understanding and discussing gender, puberty and health.
See the FAQs for educators.
See the FAQs for parents and families.
See the FAQs for young people.
Webinar Recordings
We have recorded webinars presented by Gender Spectrum to educators, school health staff, and to parents and families. Please fill out the forms below to view any of the webinars.
View the webinar for educators.