FA26 - VirTual Trans Safe Zone 9am Fridays

Term: Fall 2026

Date: October 19th to November 20th, 2026

Time: Friday 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Location: Online Only

Instructor:  Dr. Bing

Presented By:  Virginia Tech Pride Center

Description:

NOTE: VIRTUAL SAFE ZONE IS A PREREQUISITE AND MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE THIS COURSE CAN BE TAKEN

This course is the second installment in the VirTual Safe Zone series. It offers an introduction to transgender and nonbinary identities and issues that builds on the material covered in VirTual Safe Zone 101. As such, VirTual Safe Zone 101 is a prerequisite for registration in this course. This course covers topics like: the expansiveness of the transgender umbrella and the diversity of trans narratives and experiences, gender affirming practices, structural barriers to care and acceptance, trans visibility and representation, transmisogyny, and what it means to be an ally.

This course runs for five weeks and includes a combination of weekly readings and videos, discussion board posts, and a live Zoom session. Course materials are thoughtfully sequenced to encourage learners to develop foundational competencies when discussing identity, sexual orientation, gender, and gender expression before introducing more complex and nuanced topics. The discussion boards build on these materials by providing an important space for contemplation, reflection, and sharing of personal experiences. Finally, the weekly Zoom sessions offer the opportunity to bring everything together in community.

In order to receive credit for completing a VirTual Safe Zone course, participants must attend at least four of the five Zoom sessions and contribute one discussion board post and two comments each week.