Hey, Cis! S1E3: Picture day blues; What memories are worth keeping?

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Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for ‘on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation — so let’s talk.

Hey, Cis! is a volunteer-based podcast. You can support the production of our inclusive creative content by buying us a coffee…


A picture can feel like a 1000 pin pricks

“Time for a shower.
Clothes clean and pressed?”
“Are you really wearing that?”

​It’s that time of year when students are lined up by height and strategically positioned, teacher on the side and a 1-2-3, say, ‘Cheeeeze’.  Photo day. Argh.

​Are you a keeper of the class photos?

Perhaps they are layered one behind the other in a frame, like in our household, or stashed away in a keepsake box. Perhaps they’ve been burned along the way?

As a cisgender person, Cynthia has never had to question her gender identity. It aligns with her sex as assigned at birth. Photo reminiscing is easy once she gets past the cheesey ’70’s attire her mother forced her to wear. But for her son, it hasn’t been so easy.

For Isaac, who’s is a trans person, photo day can bring back some stressful memories. From managing photos that no longer represent who you are; to school photos used for your Student I.D.’s; this week’s podcast is all about looking into the photo lens through a different perspective.

  • ​Does time heal all wounds?
  • ​For trans and non-binary students, what impacts do photo day have?
  • As a teacher or as a parent and caregiver, how can you be supportive?

​’I don’t think it’s a good idea to toss those memories just because you’re trans.’ Isaac C.

Tune-in to episdoe #3 of Hey, Cis! Podcast.  And on Spotify.


International Pronoun Day

Wednesday October 3rd is International Pronoun Day and we’re talking about the subtle and not-so-subtle importance of pronouns.  Where you can put them to be a better ally and show you have some cultural competency around inclusion and making everyone feel welcome.

National Coming Out Day also falls in October and how does ‘coming out’ differ when it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation?  Isaac shares some of their experiences and we talk about the dangers of outing someone and the potentially harmful and traumatic impacts.

‘The process of coming out, as we’re discussing, is so much more than that…coming out is just acknowledging publicly or privately that you are who you are and you’re starting to live authentically yourself.’

Want to learn more?

Enrol in our 3-Part Lunch & Learn diversity and inclusion virtual learning program, designed to be digested over a lunch hour!

Glaad.org offers a wealth of information.

And we LOVE this article by Julien Paquette, They Matter And Here’s Why