Welcome to the
The Gender Education Center (GEC) started as
a branch of the City of Lakes Crossgender Community’s educational
outreach program. In the late 80s and early 90s this program did a
handful of presentations each year.
As more and more transgender people left their closets and homes
they found few, if any, safe places and fewer friendly people.
Because of our work, thousands of people now have a greater
understanding of transgender people. There are more safe places,
and more transgender people feel empowered to leave their closets
and be a part of our world. Our community is connected to work with
each other when group action is needed in human rights. Transgender
people also know they are not alone when facing workplace transitions.
The Gender Education Center is a Minnesota-based advocacy
and education non-profit organization working toward understanding,
acceptance and support for the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender)
communities with an emphasis on differently gendered people.
Starting our work in 1990, we became a Minnesota non-profit corporation
in 1994. Believing that much of the hatred in our world is rooted in
fear of the unknown, we go where there is opportunity to work for change
to provide resource information, presentations, workshops, training, and
consulting on transgender issues. We work side by side with transgender
people who are trying to live their lives. We advocate for change in work
places, schools, government & law enforcement, and health care systems
on issues of basic human rights with people who identify as differently
gendered.
Even though Minnesota has had basic protection in the areas of
employment, housing and public accommodations for transgender
people included in its Human Rights Act since 1993, very few
people or organizations understand what this means. When transgender
people have good information and know they are not alone, the result
is social change. When one transgender employee transitions in a work
place, the entire staff learns about acting with respect
regardless of inner feelings or religious beliefs. Employers learn
that this is also the law; we challenge management to set good examples.
When transgender people are turned away by organizations or agencies
we help them dialogue
about gender and what it is. This has caused changes in mission
statements and understanding at many places in the Twin Cities.
We are involved with transgender HIV/Aids advocacy, education and
housing. We also work with youth who are questioning their gender
identity and with helping professionals when they need help with
gender issues.
The Gender Education Center's, Executing Director, Debra Davis has been actively involved in public education
and training for over 45 years, and has directed the Gender Education
Center since its creation. GEC works in concert with organizations
of all kinds addressing the Human Rights issues of differently
gendered people.
We have found personal contact with transgender people essential
to social change. We need to confront our discomfort
with gender differences by face to face contact and dialogue.
Over the last 8 years the Gender Education Center gave 232 presentations &
workshops involving 8,200 participants.
(See: 2011 - 2014 Outreach Report)
In the last twenty five years we have been to colleges and universities 500 times, 80 High Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools, given over 200 workshops to members of the medical field and other helping professions, held 209 training sessions for companies and corporations through out the country, 87 presentations at religious institutions, 182 workshops for educators and teachers and dozens of other presentations to a wide variety of diverse groups. We have been interviewed in the media by radio, television and newspapers 162 times about transgender issues. Over the last 25 years we have given over 1,240 presentations
(complete list of where we've been)
involving nearly 47,000 participants.
Our award winning web site, www.debradavis.org, has been very successful. More than 150 pages of information, averaging hundreds of hits each day. We update the site with new information, photos of events and colleges we visit and new articles of interest on a regular basis.
Other transgender organizations exist that cater to the social
and psychological needs of the transgender community. We
target outreach, education, advocacy and social change as a
primary goal. GEC works in partnership with these organizations
as well as with organizations in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
communities. We work in alliance with the University of Minnesota -
Program in Human Sexuality, nationally known for its work in the
gender field as well as with the major independent therapists and
clinics who work with the transgender community throughout the
state. We also work with other local and National Transgender organizations as well as mainstream organizations on topics and
issues concerning the transgender population (ie. Chrysalis
changing their policy to include transgender women, and public
school systems when dealing with transgender employees)
We have helped dozens of organizations with the transition of
transgender employees, giving these employees the opportunity
to continue their employment in a safe, respectful environment.
In most situations, transgender people are fired when they come
out at their place of work. In Minnesota, transgender people
are covered under the Human Rights Act in regards to employment,
housing, and public accommodation. The Gender Education Center
spends much of time explaining what this means to employers,
and the fact that they can not discriminate against a transgender
employee just because they are differently gendered. We have
given over 200 workshops in the workplace on these issues.
We also work with community service organizations giving training
support to their staff. Some of these agencies include
OutFront Minnesota, Minnesota Aids Project, Planned Parenthood,
Youth & Aids Project,
The Bridge, Golden Valley, Bloomington and the City of Minneapolis Human Rights Commissions,
Chrysalis Women's Center, District 202 (for GLBTQ youth), Sexual Violence Center,
Alexandra House and Casa de Esperanza, (shelters for battered women) CADA Women's Shelter in Mankato - MN and the Red Door Clinic.
Recently we have worked with elementary, middle schools and high schools,
training students and staff on GLBT issues and on how to
integrate these issues into their policies and curriculum. We were also
involved in projects that get GLBT books into metropolitan
school libraries.
We continue to work with medical institutions and hospitals
such as Mayo clinic in Rochester, Ramsey County Hospital, North Memorial Hospital,
Hennepin County Medical Center, U of M Hospitals, Aurora Medical Center in Milwaukee - WI and Allina Health Systems giving workshops and
presentations to their staff and also as a resource when dealing
with special problems with members of our community.
We also receive referrals from many GLBT organizations when
they get requests for transgender information. We have even
worked with the Hennepin County Sheriff's office in the
formation of a policy and guidelines for the treatment of
transgender offenders when they are being incarcerated.
The Gender Education Center is a community-based, volunteer
organization. There is no paid staff. Debra Davis
is the executive director and makes the day to day
operational decisions. Over the years dozens
of volunteers have worked in the organization and served on
panels and presented workshops donating hundreds of volunteer
hours.
• Self-definition.
• Freedom of gender expression.
• The elimination of unfair discriminatory practices
on the basis of gender orientation.
• A working relationship with the health care community.
• An awareness, understanding and acceptance of gender
diversity within the social service, academic and religious communities.
• An honest, realistic, and unsensationalized portrayal
of the gender community in the media.
• A meaningful place at the table in the GLB communities.
GENDER EDUCATION CENTER
P.O. Box 1861
Maple Grove, MN 55311
(763) 424-5445
gec @ debradavis.org
Return to GEC home page