For this assignment I decided to study the Gender Spectrum community through their online platform. This group’s main focus is to provide support for parents, and individuals who identify as members of the LGBT community. They provide all kinds of information to help educate people and aid with understanding gender identification and youth problems. The site is very welcoming with many warm vibrant colors and variations of pictures. It is easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. All you have to do is select who you are, whether you are a parent or individual and the kind of information you are looking for. Then you are led to different categories you can choose from and groups to join. Each category is filled with information on what the group covers and what each session teaches then you are instructed on how to join. 

Parents can attend individual sessions, or family sessions held by different trained staff members. They also have the option to attend community sessions where they are able to talk to other parents and families in order to get advice from one another. Parents are also given the option to attend an “all dads,” or “all moms” class in order to feel more comfortable. Something that I found quite intriguing and interesting as well as helpful. In these meetings parents are trained on how to talk to their children and identify their child’s needs. They are taught how to talk to their children and aid them through the problems they are going through. 

Gender Spectrum also provides support for educators, medical and mental health professionals as well as youth development leaders. Providing them with online training, events, programs, and calls that lead to interactions with other professionals in this area. Topics such as gender, body, identity, and social gender are explained by a Gender Spectrum trained Staff member or trained volunteer. They also offer classes in both English and Spanish. With the sole purpose of educating everyone and helping the youth. Who are part of a marginalized community that is often brought down by society. For the mere reason of being different and identifying separate from the norm. 

In order to observe this community further I signed up for a group call for young adults ranging from ages 20-24. They required me to fill out a questionnaire which I found a little disturbing. I had to share personal information such as where I live and my sexual orientation. As well as what I identify with and the prefixes I rather be called. Then the organization emails you the date and time the meeting will be held on and provides you a link to enter. The meeting was held by a staff member named Valery. She began by greeting everyone and warmly welcoming us. She then told us some key rules that we all had to follow such as respecting everyone’s identities and shared feelings. She also reminded us that we were in a safe place and we had various options of participating. Which included turning on our cameras and mics or not or simply putting our answers in the chat box. This  gave the organization a community feel and made it more confidential. Next Valery introduced herself and  proceeded by telling the group the gender she identifies with and the prefixes she prefers. She then asked us what gender meant to us and we had a discussion on it. 

Furthermore, we went on to talking about things that stressed us on that week and good things that happened to us. We generated ideas on how to solve or better the things stressing us. We also discussed problems the community was facing world wide at the time and talked about possible solutions or ways we can make things better. The meeting felt as if you were on a facetime call with your best friends just chatting away no worry at all. Although I didn’t participate as much I was still welcomed and made part of their community. 

To finalize, observing a different community from yours on an online platform is very intriguing. One would expect it to be nothing like the actual experience of meeting with a group in person. And feeling weird or left out because you do not identify with the majority of the topics. But Gender Spectrum does such a good job at making you feel safe and part of something bigger that you forget it’s virtual. Connecting with other individuals and hearing their stories is very mind opening. Being reminded of the power unity has and how far we can go if we just accept and respect one another. Stand up together to change society norms and show others it is ok to step away from what is expected. Really helps you understand how much we need to help and support marginalized communities. So they can flourish and live happy.