Thread by @trans_killjoy

As we close in on the start of a new #highered academic year, here’s a short thread on some easy things faculty can do to be good company for #trans students. #academictwitter

1. Don’t call roll. Instead, invite students to share their name. If there are discrepancies between your official roster and what they share, defer to the student without fanfare or hesitation.

2. Demand to teach your course in a building with all gender restrooms. If there aren’t any, ask why, and remind folks in your department you’ll ask the same thing be done next term, which gives them a few months to put pressure on administrators in your college/unit.

3. Put statements on your syllabi about name and pronoun policies at your uni. Here’s an example of the statement I’m using this term (which folks are free to use/adapt as appropriate for your context). If your uni doesn’t have these policies, begin to inquire why.

4. Highlight trans* knowledge production by using readings by trans* people in your course. Do this not just for a “special topics” week, but throughout your course.

(And if you read this tweet and said, “but there aren’t trans folks in my field,” you’re wrong.)

5. If you don’t know much about trans folks, the trans community, or the wealth of knowledge continually being generated by trans folks, take it upon yourself to do your own education. There are a large quantity of trans-initiated/led/curated resources for you to do this.

6. Remember to center trans students’ safety and privacy. Not everyone is or cares to be out. Also, not everyone has the ability *not* to be out.

7. If you hear transphobic stuff in your classroom—even if it’s before or after class has started/ended—interrupt it, correct it, and set the tone that your classroom is not a space where that sort of violence will be tolerated ever.

8. Remember that gender is *an* aspect, not *the* aspect of a trans persons life. There is so much more to trans people than just our gender. Act accordingly.

9. If you mess up on anything, own it and then move on. No need to dwell, and definitely don’t grovel for or seek absolution. Humility and a commitment to not continually muck it up is the key here.

10. Remember gender awareness is a process, so it takes time to un/re/learn all this stuff. That said, it’s up to you to remain committed to un/re/learning it. Don’t give up. Find an accountabili-buddy. Take it upon yourself to learn so you don’t put the burden on trans folks.

I think that’s what I got for now. If other folks have stuff to add, feel free to do so! We’re better together, so let’s make this a community-built list!