When your child is enrolled at SelfDesign® Learning Community (SDLC), they are entering a learning environment where everyone feels seen, safe and respected. For children and families navigating gender identity and sexual orientation topics, SelfDesign offers a robust bank of support and educational resources. These were created and compiled to align with SOGI 123.

SOGI 123 was developed in 2016 by the ARC Foundation in collaboration with various educational partners and community organizations, including the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, the BC Teachers’ Federation, school districts across BC, the UBC Faculty of Education, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations.

“SOGI” stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity education. The “123” refers to resources designed to help educators and school districts make schools inclusive and safe for learners of all sexual orientations and gender identities. SelfDesign aligns with SOGI 123 by creating a learning environment rich with supportive relationships and inclusion for 2SLGBTQIA+ learners and their families.

“At SelfDesign, one of our main tenets is acknowledgement and respect for others’ identity, whether that be in the realm of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, and any other facet of ourselves,” says SDLC Vice-Principal Clarissa Tufts, who helped develop SOGI 123 initiatives at SelfDesign for several years.

“Our Family Services team has been leading our efforts. They liaise with other schools and stakeholders in the province, develop resources, arrange for professional development, coordinate initiatives, and support and share with our learners, families, educators and contractors.”

SelfDesign’s special resources uphold values of inclusion, safety, education and respect, in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ learner community, and include the Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance for older learners, Rainbow Hubs for younger learners, and endless content and resources relating to the topics of gender identity, relationships, sexual reproduction and sexual health.

Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance

SelfDesign learners have a way of taking important matters into their own hands. In 2020, SelfDesign’s Family Services teamed up with grades 10-12 learners to launch the Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance (GSA) to support 2SLGBTQIA+ learners.

One of the original GSA leaders was Grade 12 learner Ayalla. Ayalla proposed the idea to help 2SLGBTQIA+ learners connect, feel supported and celebrate their shared history, especially during LGBT History Month. The GSA exists to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering space through discussions, events, guest speakers and an encouraging workspace.

“The SelfDesign® Learning Foundation holds strong shared values around lifelong learning in relationships,” says SDLC Principal Catherine Dinim. “We embrace heart-centred and co-inspirational relationships based on acceptance, respect, and support of one another, and we use conversation, collaboration and co-creation, with curiosity as our lifelong pathway to transformative experiences. Creating the opportunity for our 2SLGBTQIA+ learners and allies to gather together via the GSA to share their experiences, form collaborative relationships, and to inspire each other and the larger SelfDesign community is really important.”

Rainbow Hubs

Another resource developed by both learners and educators is Rainbow Hubs. Launched in 2022, SelfDesign’s Rainbow Hubs are age‑appropriate online resources designed to support young children in exploring sexual orientation and gender identity safely and inclusively.

There are two hubs, tailored to specific age groups:

    • K-5 Rainbow Hub (kindergarten to grade 5)
    • 6-7 Rainbow Hub (grades 6 and 7)

The Hubs complement the GSA resources for older learners in grades 8-12, and are inspired by three K-7 SOGI principles:

    1.   Celebrating diversity
    2.   Personal growth and self‑reflection
    3.   Respectful relationships and community

This resource creates consistency for learners as the SOGI 123 principles are directly aligned with SelfDesign Learning Foundation’s philosophy and values, which form its foundation.

Rainbow Hubs offer monthly content with themes such as “Sexual Identity and Friendships,” “Gender Spectrum and Self‑Worth,” and “Body Awareness and Consent”, etc. The content includes memes, graphics, videos, books, and links to SelfDesign’s Learning Experience Library.

Rainbow Hubs were developed through inspiration from GSA, by educators and learners. SDLC learning consultant (LC) and Family Services Coordinator Anastasia Hangemole saw the need for early support and inclusive resources for younger students, and helped spearhead the project. The resources help to bridge the gap between younger and older SelfDesign learners who are interested in learning more about all things gender identity.

2SLGBTQIA+ support means helping learners feel resourced

SelfDesign Family Services also collaborates with the SelfDesign Learning Experiences librarian to develop content for learners, families and educators to learn more about gender identity. Learners can dive into over 150 interesting, relevant, inspiring, safe and appropriate individual Learning Experiences and over 1,700 Content Pages related to specific topics are currently available in the Learning Experiences Library. These special resources include topics surrounding gender identity, relationships, sexual reproduction and sexual health.

“Meeting learners where they are, and supporting their growth, is what we do in SelfDesign,” says Dinim. “If a family comes to their educator and says, ‘Our child is exploring their gender identity and wants to use ‘they’ pronouns,’ their educator will know that there’s support, and might say, ‘The Family Services team has some resources and there are some library resources… let’s explore them together.’”

“Many resources about supporting learners and families who are exploring issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation are available in Family Services Virtual Brochure Rack,” says Tufts. “And, we’re continuing to work to ensure all of our learners can be connected to community resources in their local communities if and when needed.”

Learn more about SelfDesign’s Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance here.