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10 LGBTQ+ Online Courses on Health, Diversity and Inclusion

Learn about some of the human rights issues faced by lesbian, gay, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) communities and explore key concepts of equality and justice. Equip yourself with the skills to develop more inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ people in all areas of life.

Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity

In this online course offered by University of Colorado, you will explore the history of LGBTQ+ activism, the diverse identities of LGBTQ people and their unique experiences. You will learn about key concepts of LGBTQ+ research and learn about the basics of gender-sensitive language and terminology. You will also analyze how LGBTQ+ issues relate to racism, whiteness, religion, conflict and reconciliation. This introductory course takes approximately seven hours to complete. After completing the course you will have a better understanding how the LGBTQ+ community has shaped the conversation around human rights, equality and justice.

Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

The University of Pittsburgh offers a four week online course about diversity and inclusion in the Workplace. This course will investigate the answers to essential questions such as “What is sex?”, “What is gender?”, “What does LGBTQIA mean?” and how these concepts relate to the workplace and workplace inclusion. Featuring research from a variety of sectors including gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, this course is a valuable asset for human rights professionals and NGO workers.


Do you want to pursue a career in human rights?

Our eBook “Launching Your Career in Human Rights” is an in-depth resource designed for those committed to pursuing a career in the human rights field. It covers a wide range of topics, including the types of careers available, the necessary skills and competencies, and the educational pathways that can lead to success in this sector. Whether you’re considering a master’s degree, looking for your first job, or exploring specific human rights issues, this guide offers valuable insights and practical advice. It’s a helpful tool for anyone looking to understand the complexities of working in human rights and how to effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with this important work. Learn more.


 

Queering the Schoolhouse: LGBTQ+ Inclusion for Educators

This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to develop and enable a more inclusive learning environment for students, teachers and community members. It will encourage you to explore strategies for inclusion of lesbian, gay, transgender, queer or questioning learners in your professional context and will train you in techniques for enhancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools. Teachers and educators will especially benefit from this course but every other member of the school community from parents, students and administrators will find it useful to increase their knowledge about LGBTQ+ inclusion.

International Women’s Health and Human Rights

This online course offered by Stanford University focuses on women’s health and human rights issues from infancy through old age and contains a dedicated chapter about LGBTI Refugees. The course also puts emphasis on outlining strategies that strengthen women’s health and human rights in a global context. The course will encourage learners to explore positive interventions for pressing human rights issues including female genital mutilation, violence against women and sex trafficking.

AIDS: Fear and Hope

In this course you will learn about the biology of the virus that causes AIDS and the economic, social and political factors that determine who gets healthy or sick, who lives or dies. Beyond that, this course will discuss medical progress and the latest treatments available to people who live with HIV. The course contains one chapter specifically related to women and gender inequality and gives a glimpse into sexual history. The course was developed by University of Michigan and takes approximately 16 hours to complete.

What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)?

In this course you will have the opportunity to gain deep insights into the experiences of transgender people. Together with your peers you will discuss issues such as bathroom rights, access to healthcare, employment inequality and housing discrimination. Participants will learn about the unique struggles faced by TGNC people and develop the skills to build inclusive spaces in various areas of life. This course was developed under the Joycelyn Elders Chair in Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota and takes 27 hours from start to finish.

Health Across the Gender Spectrum

This unique course will provide an intimate, story-based introduction to the experiences of six transgender children and their families. Through these stories and short explainer videos you will develop a more profound understanding of the gender spectrum and gender identity. The course offers practical tips for healthcare providers, teachers and parents to create a more gender-expansive environment that enables everyone to live authentic lives.

PrEParing: PrEP for Providers and Patients

This course is offered by Johns Hopkins University and takes approximately 12 hours to complete. Learners who complete the course will be able to describe the need for PrEP as an HIV prevention tool in stigmatized populations. They will also be able to indicate the requirements for integrating PrEP services into clinical practice and explain key aspects of patient education for HIV prevention and sexual health. This course will be especially useful for patients, healthcare professionals and providers of PrEP services.

Transgender Medicine for General Medical Providers

This course will provide you with an introduction to transgender surgical and medical treatments. You will learn about primary care for transgender men and woman as well as essential strategies to transgender hormone therapies. You will also learn about transmasculine and transfeminine genital surgery. This course takes approximately 12 hours to complete and is taught entirely in English. The course is offered by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Optimizing Diversity on Teams

In this course offered by Pennsylvania University you will learn how you can create prosperous teams where differences can flourish. The four weeks course contains modules on promoting diversity in the workplace, managing conflict and team building essentials. It takes approximately twelve hours to complete and can be taken at your own pace. It is part of a specialization that contains five courses and concludes with a capstone project.

About the author

Robert Fellner

Robert is founder of Human Rights Careers (HRC). A platform with the aim to support human rights students, alumni, graduates and professionals in pursuing and developing their career in human rights. Prior to launching HRC, Robert worked as Global Human Rights EdTech Manager at Amnesty International in London and as consultant for international human rights organizations globally. During 2011 and 2012, Robert worked as lecturer at Ain Shams university in Egypt. Robert has a masters in literature and human rights.