Amplify Your Voice Resource Handout

Safety & Caution Strategies

• Know your audience: choose people and settings where you feel supported.
• Identify trusted allies: list staff, friends, or organizations you can turn to.
• Set personal boundaries: decide in advance what you will and won’t share.
• Develop a backup plan: know who you’ll contact or where you’ll go if you face pushback.
• Monitor emotional safety: practice self-care and check in on your well-being.
• Assess timing and context: pick moments when your voice will be heard respectfully.

Reflection Prompts

1. When and where might I feel safe sharing my identity?

1. Who are three trusted allies I can speak with? List names and roles.

1. What personal boundaries will I set around what I share?

1. What is my backup plan if I feel unsupported or face resistance?

1. What self-care strategies will I use after sharing my voice?

Scenario Preparation

Choose one scenario from Amplify Your Voice Scenario Cards and respond to the prompts below:

• Briefly describe how you would approach this scenario.

• Which safety strategies would you apply, and why?

Keep this handout as a reference when planning to share your identity and practicing your voice. You’ve got this!

Scenario Cards

Use these cards in small groups for role-play. Each group picks 2–3 cards. Assign roles: Speaker (the student using their voice), Listener (e.g., teacher, administrator, peer), Observer (notes effective strategies and offers feedback).

1. Pride Month Assembly
Your GSA wants to host a school-wide assembly during Pride Month to celebrate LGBTQ+ history and foster inclusivity. You’ll meet with the principal to propose your idea, explain its benefits, and address any concerns.

2. Gender-Neutral Restrooms
You’ve noticed a lack of gender-neutral restroom options. You’re preparing to speak at a student council meeting to advocate for converting one set of restrooms into all-gender facilities.

3. Pronoun Inclusion in Class
You want teachers to include pronouns in roll calls and on name tags. You’ll speak at a department meeting to explain why this practice supports all students and suggest a simple implementation plan.

4. Responding to Bullying
You witnessed anti-LGBTQ bullying in the hallway. You plan to talk with the school safety officer or counselor to propose a peer-led response team and suggest supportive interventions.

5. Inclusive Curriculum
Your history class unit omits LGBTQ+ contributions. You’re meeting with the teacher to request adding at least one lesson on LGBTQ+ figures and events, including resources and discussion questions.

6. Staff Training on LGBTQ+ Awareness
You’ve heard staff express uncertainty about how to support LGBTQ+ students. You’ll approach the principal or professional development coordinator to propose a workshop series and outline key topics.

Keep observers focused on communication strategies: clarity of message, empathy, use of “I” statements, anticipating concerns, and crafting solutions. After each role-play, observers share two strengths and one suggestion for improvement.

Amplify Your Voice – Exit Ticket

Please take a few minutes to reflect on today’s session. Write your responses below:

1. My biggest takeaway about the power of my voice is:

1. A safety or caution strategy I will use when sharing my identity is:

1. One concrete next step I will take to continue amplifying my voice (e.g., speaking with a trusted adult, joining a club) is:

1. One resource or person I will reach out to for support (see Amplify Your Voice Resource Handout) is:

Thank you for your reflections! Your voice matters—keep using it.