Part of the international high-IQ society that has online forums, scholarships, and opportunities to socialize.
Gay SIG (special interest group) is one of the longest-running SIGs in American Mensa.
The Minnesota chapter is Minnesota Mensa.
GLSEN—Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
“GLSEN works with educators, policy makers, community leaders and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in schools. GLSEN strives to protect students from bullying and harassment, to advance comprehensive safe schools laws and policies, to empower principals to make schools safer, and to build the skills of educators to teach respect for all people.”
GLSEN has “Safe Space Kits” available for purchase, which many teachers use to communicate to students that their classrooms and offices are safe havens (to talk, to get away from bullies, to just be themselves).
Includes information on gifted education, 2E (twice-exceptional) issues, and has reading lists for gifted teens.
NAGC GLBTQ Network Advocacy information (similar to some of the home page content)
This foundation gives scholarships and provides program assistance to educators and GLBTQ youth who live in Minnesota.
Quatrefoil (Minneapolis) has books suitable for young readers and coming-out resources. A membership fee is required if you want to borrow materials.
RECLAIM increases access to mental health support so that queer and trans youth ages 12-26 may reclaim their lives from oppression in all its forms.
Offers multiple resources for all transgender youth and their families. Some states have local groups.
The Trevor Project: Saving Young Lives
“The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.”
Books
Brown, Rita Mae. Rita Will: Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser. New York: Bantam Books, 1997.
In her memoir, Brown explicates her life’s journey as a gifted-queer woman, emphasizing the importance of being true to one’s self and the necessity of developing resiliency to counter discriminatory attitudes.
Huegel, Kelly. GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer & Questioning Teens. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 2003.
Covering issues from abusive relationships to youth resources, Huegel answers many of the common (and some not-so-common) questions that arise for GLBTQ teens, providing them with tools to advocate for themselves and keep themselves healthy.
Piechowski, Michael M. “Experiencing in a Higher Key: Dabrowski’s Theory of and for the Gifted.” Expert Approaches to Support Gifted Learners. Ed. Margaret Wayne Gosfield. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 2008. 19-32.
This chapter provides a brief introduction/overview for readers unfamiliar with Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration. It can be very helpful in understanding the concept of Overexcitabilities (OEs).
The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement of or affiliation with the associated organizations, and this site’s owner bears no responsibility for the accuracy of the content (or lack thereof) found at external sites. Links are included for informational purposes only.