Allyship Training Levels

Our Allyship Training programs are designed for any organization who wants to provide training for their team (employees, administrators, volunteers) on how to better support folks in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community! This page contains information about the guiding questions we used to develop the program content. If you (or someone at your organization) has had one of these questions (or similar), it might be a good idea to book that particular training program!

Level One Programs

The goal of our level one programs is to provide a foundational level of knowledge as related to gender, sexuality, transitioning, and the Pride community. This level is good for people who have not had previous 2SLGBTQ-training, or, have not had any training within the past two years.

Maximum Duration of Level One Programming: 2 hours

Queer History & Terminology 101

Duration: 30 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • How has language relating to gender and sexuality evolved?

  • What were key moments in the queer liberation movement?

  • Why are there so many different pride flags?

  • Is it appropriate to use LGBTQ+?

Gender 101

Duration: 30 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • What’s the difference between gender and sex? 

  • Why should I use the term ‘cisgender’?

  • How many different genders are there? 

  • What does gender presentation mean?

Sexuality 101

Duration: 30 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • What are the different types of attraction?

  • Can a person not experience attraction at all?

  • Why are more people using the term ‘queer’?

  • How many sexualities are there?

Transitioning 101

Duration: 30 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • Do all trans people experience gender dysphoria?

  • What are the different types of gender euphoria? 

  • Is medical transition the only option for trans people?

  • What does the journey of transitioning look like?

Level Two Programs

The goal of our level two programs is to discuss queerness in relation to society. This includes exploring how different experiences of identity can influence experiences of oppression, and examining the ways in which queer people are victimized both interpersonally and systemically. This level is good for people who have some foundational knowledge about the queer community and want to have a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by queer folks.

Maximum Duration of Level Two Programming: 3 hours

Intersectionality & Privilege

Duration: 45 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • Do I have privilege? 

  • How can different identities intersect in relation to oppression?

  • Are some queer people more vulnerable than others? 

  • What is positionality and why should I care about it?

Stereotypes & Microaggressions

Duration: 45 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • Do I have unconscious biases? 

  • How do stereotypes impact queer people?

  • If they are ‘micro’, then why are microaggressions such a big deal? 

  • How can I recognize and challenge anti-queer microaggressions?

Construction of “Norms”

Duration: 45 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • Is the gender binary really ingrained in everything? 

  • How do these so-called norms impact me? 

  • What is compulsory heterosexuality? 

  • How can I recognize and challenge norms?

Challenging Anti-QT Misinformation

Duration: 45 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • Is hate against queer and trans people rising?

  • What parts of the queer community are most vulnerable to experiencing anti-queer and anti-trans misinformation?

  • What are strategies for debunking misinformation?

  • How else can I work to challenge hate against the queer and trans community?

Level Three Programs

The goal of our level three programming is to discuss how we can each better support queer people, including within our individual lives (through use of language and pronouns), for people we care about (e.g. queer loved ones), and on a societal level. This level is good for people who want to understand the different ways we can affirm, celebrate, and support queer people.

Maximum Duration of Level Three Programming: 3.5 hours

Inclusive Language

Duration: 30 minutes

Guiding Questions:

  • How common is gendered language?

  • How do I refer to a friend/family member who is non-binary? 

  • What are alternatives to gendered titles in the workplace?

  • Doesn’t inclusive language erase men and women?

Pronouns & Misgendering

Duration: 1 hour

Guiding Questions:

  • How do I use different pronouns like they/them, neopronouns, or mixed pronouns?

  • What are some ways that I can practice using pronouns?

  • What if I make a mistake?

  • Does using pronouns really even matter?

Unconditional Love

Duration: 1 hour

Guiding Questions:

  • Why is it important to show support to queer and trans folks? 

  • What are some best practices to support someone who is coming out? 

  • How – and should – I tell other people about my loved one’s queer identity? 

  • How can I support queer people if I don’t like to protest?

Advocates, Allies & Accomplices

Duration: 1 hour

Guiding Questions:

  • What are the harms of traditional (performative) allyship – isn’t any kind of allyship good?

  • What if I’m not a ‘protest in the street’ kind of person – how else could I advocate? 

  • How can I support loved ones as an ally? 

  • What does it mean to be an accomplice – am I helping someone break out of jail or something?

Level Four Programs

Level four is a bit different from previous levels, as it consists of specific specializations geared towards people who live/work within certain roles and communities. The goal of this level is to discuss how to support queer people within the different roles/communities in which we serve. 

Each specialization has a different recommended audience based on the topic. There is the primary specialization (e.g. Rainbow Service Providers), with optional add-ons to allow organizations to specifically customize their programming based on the goals/interests of the organization.

Rainbow Service Providers

Maximum 3.5 hours (1 hour for the core program + up to 2.5 hours of add-ons)

Core Program Guiding Questions:

  • What are the impacts of minority stress in relation to the social determinants of health?

  • How can I provide affirming care for clients?

  • How can my organization become a safer place for queer clients?

Recommended Audience:

Anyone who provides care/support for clients (e.g. social workers, counsellors, peer support workers, group facilitators, doctors, nurses, senior home staff, PSWs, housing/shelter staff, etc.)

Add-On: Healthcare (30 minutes)

  • What are some of the health inequities faced by queer people?

  • Why is it especially challenging for queer people to seek support from healthcare professionals?

  • What does it look like to support the health of queer people?

Add-On: Housing & Employment (30 minutes)

  • What are some of the barriers to housing for queer people?

  • What are some of the challenges faced by queer people in obtaining/maintaining employment?

  • What does housing/employment support for queer people look like?

Add-On: Mental Health (30 minutes)

  • What are the effects of trauma on queer mental health?

  • Why is it especially challenging for queer people to seek mental health support?

  • What does mental health support for queer people look like?

Add-On: Children & Youth (15 minutes)

  • How can I support queer kids (ages 0-15)?

Add-On: Teens & YA (15 minutes)

  • How can I support queer teens & young adults (ages 15-30)?

Add-On: Seniors (15 minutes)

  • How can I support queer seniors (ages 65+)?

Rainbow Classrooms

Maximum 2 hours (30 minutes for the core program + up to 1.5 hours of add-ons)

Core Program Guiding Questions:

  • What are some of the challenges faced by queer and trans students?

  • How does minority stress impact student success? 

  • How can I provide support individually?

  • How can my school be a safer place for queer students?

Recommended Audience:

Anyone with a role in an educational setting (e.g. teachers, professors, CYWs, principals, administrators, educational support workers, etc.)

Add-On: Elementary Schools (30 minutes)

  • How should I talk to kids about gender and sexuality?

  • How can I support queer kids?

Add-On: Secondary Schools (30 minutes)

  • How should I talk to teens about navigating relationships?

  • How can I support queer teens?

Add-On: Post-Secondary Schools (30 minutes)

  • What are some of the challenges faced by queer young adults?

  • How can I support queer young adults?

Rainbow Churches

Maximum 2.5 hours (45 minutes for the core program + up to 1.45 hours of add-ons)

Core Program Guiding Questions:

  • How does queerness intersect with Christianity? 

  • What are some of the challenges faced by queer Christians?

  • Isn’t it enough to say my church is welcoming? 

  • How can my church better support queer people?

Recommended Audience:

anyone with a role in a church (e.g. clergy, deacons, bishops, lay leaders, parish council, youth leaders, etc.)

Add-On: The Bible (45 minutes)

  • What are some of the ‘clobber’ passages against queer people?

  • Are there Bible passages that affirm queer people?

Add-On: Pastoral Care (30 minutes)

  • What does spiritual and religious trauma look like?

  • How can I provide trauma-informed care for queer people?

Add-On: Inclusive Worship (30 minutes)

  • What do the sacraments (e.g. marriage, baptism) look like in a queer context?

  • How can I create more inclusive worship services?