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The Pride Center’s Community Cultural Competency Trainings create LGBTQ+ affirming spaces throughout Western New York. Cultural competency trainings benefit participants by providing concrete information and real-world examples. This type of training helps improve communication, create a healthier environment, and foster LGBTQ+ acceptance.

Our Community Trainings are held once per month via Zoom, and are free and open to any community members or allies seeking to make a difference. We also offer trainings for nonprofit organizations, healthcare agencies, educational institutions, and governmental entities - click here to learn more and request a training.

Community Trainings

LGBTQ+ FOUNDATIONS

This training will provide attendees with in-depth foundational knowledge on LGBTQ+ communities, including an overview of terminology, sociopolitical and historical context, legal protections & recognition, and actionable steps for creating a safer and more satisfying community for LGBTQ+ individuals to live in. Learning objectives include:

· Provide overview of current terminology & pronoun usage

· Identify differences between sex assigned at birth, gender, & sexuality

· Understand the diversity of & disparities impacting LGBTQ+ communities

· Review NYS protections & engaging in advocacy beyond allyship

TGX+ EXPERIENCES

This training will provide attendees with in-depth knowledge on the experiences of transgender and gender expansive communities, including an overview of terminology, different types of transitioning, barriers faced by TGX+ communities, impacts of anti-trans legislation, legal protections & recognition, and actionable steps for creating a safer and more satisfying community for TGX+ individuals to live in. Learning objectives include:

· Provide overview of current terminology & pronoun usage

· Identify differences between sex assigned at birth, gender, & sexuality

· Compare different trans identities & transitioning experiences

· Illustrate the impacts of intersectionality & neurodivergence

· Combat misinformation & recognize disparities present

· Review NYS protections & engaging in advocacy beyond allyship

QUEERNESS IN NATURE

This training focuses on the complexities of sex, gender, and behaviors in the animal kingdom as well as pushing back against anthropocentrism and disputing the belief that biology is strictly binary. Topics covered include the different iterations of “queerness” in the animal kingdom, the importance of recognizing the complexities of all beings (animals and humans alike), and a sample of 25 queer animals, plants, and fungi. Learning objectives include:

· Define the term “queer”

· Explain “queerness” present in nature

· Recognize the importance of the expansive natural world

UNDERSTANDING LGBTQ+ OLDER ADULTS

This training aims to equip attendees with in-depth foundational knowledge on LGBTQ+ older adults and the specific considerations and needs of the population. This training includes definitions and acronyms, sociopolitical and historical context, local and national resources, legal protections & recognition, and actionable steps for creating a safer and more satisfying environments for LGBTQ+ older adults to thrive in. Learning objectives include:

· Provide overview of current terminology & pronoun usage

· Identify differences between sex assigned at birth, gender, & sexuality

· Examine the experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults

· Discuss disparities faced by this segment of the population

· Review NYS protections and engaging in advocacy beyond allyship

QUEER HISTORY

This training will center on the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities throughout history as a means of increasing awareness of the rich queer history that has survived the passage of time. From ancient Egypt to present day, attendees will learn about the existence of individuals and communities pushing the boundaries of societal expectations and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ liberation. Learning objectives include:

· Define the term “queer”

· Explore diversity & intersectionality in LGBTQ+ communities

· Understand hirstory & its importance

· Analyze the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

· Connect the past & present struggles for liberation

· Promote advocacy beyond allyship

schedule a Cultural Competency Training at Your Organization

We offer trainings for nonprofit organizations, healthcare agencies, educational institutions, and governmental entities. To schedule an LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training for your organization, you must submit a request online. Requests will be answered in the order in which they are received. We typically book at least one month in advance, but even more notice is best if you wish to have your training during Pride Month (June). For additional questions about trainings, please email training@pridecenterwny.org. We reserve the right to discontinue the training if attendees become disruptive and/or disrespectful towards Pride Center trainers.

Call or email the Pride Center at training@pridecenterwny.org for more information, or click here to request a training now.