Gender, Orientation, Behavior: What People Mean by "Sex" these Days and What it Means for Camps

WHAT’S “SEX”???? Birth sex Gender identity Gender expression Cis v Trans Human attraction Sexual attraction Sexual orientation Sexual behavior What camps don’t have to do about this What camps DO have to do about this

BIRTH SEX OR SEX “It’s a ______” Biologic sex Gender assigned at birth Female Male Intersex/Other (DSD – 1/2000)

GENDER IDENTITY “I feel like a ____” Internal sense of who they are. Girl Boy Neither Both Fluid Nonbinary “I feel like a ____” Internal sense of who they are.

GENDER EXPRESSION “I show the world I am ____.” Social construct of clothing, behavior, activities, preferences.

WHAT’S “CIS”? Sex assigned at birth matches identity

WHAT’S “TRANS”? Sex assigned at birth doesn’t match identity

HUMAN ATTRACTION BOYS/MEN GIRLS/WOMEN BOTH NEITHER NGB

SEXUAL ATTRACTION BOYS/MEN GIRLS/WOMEN BOTH NEITHER NGB

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

What matters is camp rules SEXUAL BEHAVIOR What matters is camp rules

IS IT A “DIAGNOSIS?”

DOES THAT HELP OR HURT? PROs: Legitimization Protection Services CONs: Pathologizes Implies a “fix” Labels can become obstacles

CAMPS DON’T NEED TO: Diagnose Label Judge Look in anyone’s underwear

CAMPS DO NEED TO: Stick to mission/examine policies Consider pronouns Protect these children Plan placement

PRONOUNS

JUST ASK!

PROTECT KIDS

PROTECT PRIVACY Who needs to know? What do they need to know? When does it need to be discussed?

PLACEMENT Bathrooms Showers Changing areas Cabins Teams