Trainings | OutFront Minnesota

OutFront Minnesota provides education and training statewide, both virtual and in person! Our professional staff offers robust interactive sessions in various settings covering an array of topics related to 2SLGBTQIA+ equity.

OutFront Minnesota trainers provide critical knowledge that is age- and situation-appropriate to ensure accurate and approachable information.

Request a Session

To request a training or workshop for your group, fill out a Training Inquiry Form (linked below) at least one month in advance of your training. You'll be contacted by an OutFront Minnesota staff member to discuss more details about your training needs and costs.

Training Request Form

Questions?

Contact Us

trainings@outfront.org

Introductory Training Sessions

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Intersectionality & 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

Our Intersectionality & 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities training covers key concepts and general terms relating to gender and sexuality, practical skills for being in allyship with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and grounds the group in intersectionality principles to create safer, more inclusive environments. Participants will gain a better understanding of intersectionality, a brief introduction to its origins, why we center a Black Queer Feminist Lens in movement work and ways that intersectionality frameworks can create safer, more inclusive environments. There will be time to discuss your own identities and how intersectionality may impact you and those around you.

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Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Part 1

Our Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Part 1 Training covers basic terms and concepts relating to gender and sexuality. We will learn about the differences between sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation and what 2SLGBTQIA+ means. We will also begin to learn basic tips on how to be more inclusive and supportive in our daily lives.

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Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Part 2

Our Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Part 2 Training reviews basic terms and concepts relating to gender and sexuality while also diving into thinking about our own identities and learned biases. We’ll learn about practical skills to create affirming spaces by gaining a better understanding of intersectionality and how power, privilege, and oppression can affect 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and beyond.

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Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Pronoun Usage in the Workplace

Our Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Pronoun Usage in the Workplace Training covers basic terms and concepts relating to gender and sexuality. We will learn about the differences between sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation and what 2SLGBTQIA+ means. We will also begin to learn basic tips on how to use pronouns, the importance of using correct pronouns in the workplace as well as practicing using correct pronouns and correcting others.

Education Trainings

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Addressing Myths and Misinformation about LGBTQ+ and Gender (PK-12)

Advocating for LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive schools can spark discomfort–or even outright opposition–from colleagues, school leaders or families. Whether it’s a hallway conversation or a phone call questioning your book choices, Welcoming Schools is here to support you in engaging in respectful, informed dialogue. In this session, we’ll explore common misconceptions about LGBTQ+ and transgender children and families, practice responses grounded in the well-being of all students, and build confidence for navigating these conversations with care.

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Advocacy 101

Our Advocacy 101 training focuses on building power within youth and student groups. We discuss what advocacy and power means and how youth can collaborate with each other to make a difference in their worlds. We also share practical ideas and leave time for brainstorming to get things rolling.

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Coming Out

Our Coming Out training covers what coming out means, tips on creating a safe coming out plan and best practices for when someone comes out to you. Additionally, we talk about myths about coming out and how this process can feel very different to different groups of people.

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Creating Schools That Welcome All Genders (Elementary and Secondary Session)

We know that all students benefit from a school climate that addresses gender role stereotyping and disrupts bullying around gender identity and expression. This workshop will provide participants with a brief overview of lesson plans, books and resources, as well as concrete strategies to create an environment where all students thrive. In this session, you will have an interactive, first-hand experience with two of Welcoming Schools’ most popular professional development modules—Creating Gender-Inclusive Schools and Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students—which include strategies, videos and resources to better support all your students!

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GSAs: Just Getting Started (Gender and Sexuality Alliances)

Gender and Sexuality Alliances can be extremely helpful for 2SLGBTQIA2S+ youth as well as general school climate. In this training, you’ll learn about best practices for starting a group/club like this within your school community as well as how to maintain and facilitate the group. Resources and ideas will also be shared throughout the session and will be an interactive conversation to best meet your school team’s needs.

Healthy Relationships

Our Healthy Relationships training discusses different types of relationships, myths about relationships as well as practical tools for setting boundaries and communicating with the different people in your life. We also examine how media has impacted our perceptions of relationships in general and specifically queer relationships. Attendees should leave this training with a renewed idea of what is meaningful to them when it comes to building healthy relationships.

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Intersectionality & 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

Our Intersectionality & 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities training covers key concepts and general terms relating to gender and sexuality, practical skills for being in allyship with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and grounds the group in intersectionality principles to create safer, more inclusive environments. Participants will gain a better understanding of intersectionality, a brief introduction to its origins, why we center a Black Queer Feminist Lens in movement work and ways that intersectionality frameworks can create safer, more inclusive environments. There will be time to discuss your own identities and how intersectionality may impact you and those around you.

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Intersectionality: School Practices With An Intersectional Lens (PK-12)

It is essential for educators to recognize all of their students’ identities—both privileged and marginalized—to create school systems and school climates that are equitable and cultivate a sense of belonging so all students can thrive. In this workshop, participants will learn what intersectionality is and how to use it as a framework to serve all students, in particular, by recognizing students’ identities at the intersections, such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability, faith, sexual orientation and family structure. Participants will leave the workshop with practices, developed by Welcoming Schools, that are affirming and welcoming for students’ whole selves, so they can successfully ease into learning each day.

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Introduction to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities | Evidence-Based Strategies for Improving School Climate

Our 2SLGBTQIA+ 101 Training covers basic terms and concepts relating to gender and sexuality. We will learn about the differences between sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation and what 2SLGBTQIA+ means. We will also begin to learn basic tips on how to be more inclusive and supportive in our school environments. We’ll also discuss the mindsets and action steps necessary to create affirming spaces in our schools as well as working through scenarios in small groups to help build our active allyship skills.

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Let's Talk Gender: Introduction to Gender and Trans Issues

While this training is similar to our introductory LGBTQIA2S+ training, we will dive deeper into thinking about our own experiences with gender. We will learn about general terms relating to gender, the differences between gender identity and gender expression along with topics like binaries and the joys and challenges that trans and gender expansive people may experience.

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Navigating Responses to Identity-Based Bullying (Secondary Session)

Research indicates that over half of bullying incidents in schools are identity-based, which means they are rooted in bias. Educators often do not know how or feel uncomfortable facilitating learning about bias and/or intervening when a bias incident happens. In collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League, Welcoming Schools developed a youth-centered video that prioritizes and amplifies the voices of a diverse group of students across the United States. During our time together we will watch the short 9-minute video and provide actionable strategies based upon advice from youth to educators, creating an opportunity for educators to increase both their knowledge and confidence in addressing identity-based bullying.

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Preventing Bias-Based Bullying (Elementary Session)

All bullying behavior stems from bias—a tendency to believe that some people are better than others, often based on race, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, appearance or actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Bias-based bullying is both pervasive and harmful; students who are targeted for bullying based on their identities are more likely to miss school, struggle academically and have low self-esteem. Real change occurs when teachers not only interrupt bullying, but empower their students to be allies for each other, address the bias behind the bullying and cultivate an environment of respect. In this workshop, we will give some essential highlights from the Welcoming Schools Preventing Bias-Based Bullying professional development training that give educators these critical skills.

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Teachable Moments (PK-12)

When educators are prepared to respond to challenging questions from students they can turn any moment into a teachable moment. Welcoming Schools knows how challenging it can be to effectively respond to questions and comments from students and families. As such, we have developed and will share resources with participants that offer examples of age-appropriate responses to common questions about LGBTQ+, gender and family topics. We will work together in this session to review and practice responses so that you will feel prepared to address teachable moments throughout the school year.

Trainings for Congregational & Faith Communities

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Queer Theology 101

This queer theology training gives you the opportunity to explore the theologies undergirding “clobber passages” while also building a new theological framework that allows us to build a theology that welcomes and affirms all people. You will receive notes on best practices for weaving this theology into your congregational life.

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Unclobbering the Bible

The Bible has been used as a means for excluding queer people from the Christian church for ages. In this training we will examine those difficult passages, find new ways of interpretation, explore what scholars have to say about the Bible, and walk away with a new understanding of how we might interpret these hard-to-read passages.

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Your Faith Community and 2SLGBTQIA+ Identities

This training covers general terms relating to gender and sexuality, respecting pronouns, and steps you can take as a congregation to be a better ally. We will ground much of our learnings in theological tenets, reflect on our own experiences of gender, and discuss best practices in being a welcoming and affirming congregation.

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Your Faith Community and Allyship

Our Allyship Training dives deeper into how your congregation can be in closer relationship with the LGBTQIA2S+ community and best practices in allyship. We will also walk through an assessment of your congregation, reflecting on the ways you welcome queer folk and steps you might take as a congregation to welcome more widely.