Gender Diversity is an organization that provides transgender related lectures, seminars, and publications for K-12 educational institutions, corporate workplaces, and health care providers. ¹

Background

Gender Diversity was founded by transgender activist Aiden Key. ² Key helped organize the first “Family Conference for caregivers of gender-diverse children & teens” in 2007 with the Gender Spectrum Charitable Fund, commonly referred to as Gender Spectrum. ³

Publications

Gender Diversity promotes the book Trans Children in Today’s Schools, ⁴ written by Gender Diversity founder Aiden Key. ⁴ The book promotes itself as a resource on how to approach school leaders, teachers, and community members for parents who seek to support a transgender identity for their children. ⁵ The book is also framed as a resource for education systems that seek to advance pro-transgender positions. ⁵

Other examples of publications produced by Gender Diversity include Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, a 649-page guide designed as resource for communities and parents that seek to support the well-being of their transgender children. ⁶ The funds from the sale of the publication are used to support a non-profit organization by the same name, Trans Bodies ⁶ ,which in turn promotes free copies of the book and produces other transgender related publications. ⁷

K-12 Trainings

Gender Diversity’s K-12 trainings aim to persuade education systems that are generally not opposed to transgender students to becoming active supporters of transgender activism. ⁸

The provides education systems with guidance on how to implement policies supportive of transgender students’ desires relating to inclusion in bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports. ⁸ In addition to policy implementation, Gender Diversity provides education systems with  guidance on how to interact with parents who oppose such policies; guidance on how to resolve conflict with teachers, staff, or administrators who oppose such policies; and guidance on how to develop age-specific classroom instructions to ensure that other students comply with such policies. ⁸

Corporate Trainings

Gender Diversity’s corporate trainings guide businesses on how to develop gender transition programs for their employees; how to implement bathroom usage, dress code, health insurance, and other corporate policies desired by transgender employees; and guidance on legal obligations employees have toward transgender employees. ⁸

Leadership

Gender Diversity is led by its founder, transgender activist Aiden Key, who transitioned from female to male in 1999. ⁹ Key holds a bachelor’s degree from Antioch University. ¹⁰

1.  “What We Do.” Gender Diversity. https://genderdiversity.org/
2. “About Us.” Gender Diversity. https://genderdiversity.org/about/
3. Abrams, Meridith S. “Gender Spectrum: exploring gender diversity in schools: a project

   based upon an investigation at schools that received Gender Spectrum training on the topics of gender and gender diversity.” Smith College. Master’s Thesis.  2014. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2157&context=theses

4. “Trans Children in Today’s Schools.” Gender Diversity. https://genderdiversity.org/product/trans-children-in-todays-schools/
5. “Description – Trans Children in Today’s Schools.” Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/trans-children-in-todays-schools-9780190886547?cc=us&lang=en&#
6. “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves – Chapter Contributor.” Gender Diversity. https://genderdiversity.org/trans-bodies-trans-selves/
7. “Our Mission and Vision.” Trans Bodies. http://transbodies.com/about/
8. “Gender Diversity in the Workplace.” Gender Diversity. https://genderdiversity.org/workplace-gender-inclusivity/
9. Mosley, Tonya. “How school systems, educators and parents can support transgender children.” NPR. June 28, 2023. Accessed May 19, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2023/06/28/1184805981/how-school-systems-educators-and-parents-can-support-transgender-children
10. “Memorandum:Appointments to Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities.” Office of Mayor Gregory J. Nickles. https://clerk.seattle.gov/~CFS/CF_309799.pdf