Pronouns: Small Words, Big Impact
Class Length: 90 minutes
Pronouns are small words with big impacts. These little words that are used everyday are packed with personal and political power. This workshop will talk about pronouns in our schools, what students’ rights are for having their personal pronouns honored, what parents’ rights are for asserting their opinions on what pronouns are used to refer to their children, and how California's educational laws and policies support youth being affirmed. There will be time for participants to practice using pronouns of various sorts.
Presenter
Lark Doolan
Lark Doolan is the Executive Director of Queer Humboldt, a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports schools in not only being safe places but ultimately places of liberation for 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. Doolan started his career in schools in 2007 by working as a special education paraprofessional. He later became a credentialed special education teacher and eventually a district superintendent. Now he works in partnership with schools to support systems change. Doolan is also a practicing marriage and family therapist and serves on the State of California's Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee, representing the Humboldt County 2S/LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Policy Council. Since 2012, Doolan has provided trainings for school staff on creating safe and inclusive schools for gender diverse youth, non-heterosexual youth, and youth with disabilities.