Rotary International

1. 2019 YEO Preconvention
Diversity and Inclusion in
Rotary Youth Exchange
A Focus on LGBTQ Participants

2. 2019 YEO Preconvention
Diversity and Inclusion in
Rotary Youth Exchange
Your Facilitators
Michael ParksJany Hatanaka

3. 2019 YEO Preconvention
•ABIJ President – 2015 - 2017
•Exprobrasil Multi-District Vice President – 2014 – 2018
•Exprobrasil Multi-District President – 2011 - 2014
•Chairperson – District 4430 - 2009 – 2018
•Experience supporting L, G, and B students
•Experience supporting Transgendered students
Jany Hatanaka - São Paulo, Brazil

4. 2019 YEO Preconvention
• Rotary Youth Exchange Chairperson – District 6900 2016 – 2020
• Co-Chair – Human Rights Campaign – Georgia USA 2014 – 2016
• Experience support transitioning Transgendered student
• Rotary Youth Exchange student of the year – Brazil – 1976 - 1977
Michael Parks - Atlanta, USA

5. 2019 YEO Preconvention
As an international organization, Rotary values its diversity around
the world and within each club. Each club strives to reflect the
diversity of its community by including members from a mix of
professions, genders, ages, and ethnicities. Having members with
different backgrounds and viewpoints gives your club a broader
understanding of the community and its problems, and better
equips it to find solutions. Equally important is fostering a culture
of inclusion, where these differences are respected, supported,
and valued. Rotary is apolitical and nonreligious, and it does not
discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, faith, national origin,
or sexual orientation.
Rotary International’s statement on Diversity and Inclusion

6. 2019 YEO Preconvention
Many of our
students are
LGBTQ

7. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Lesbian – sexual orientation – a woman who loves or is sexually attracted to other women
● Gay – sexual orientation – a man, or woman, who loves or is sexually attracted to others of
the same gender
● Bisexual – sexual orientation – a man or a woman who may love or be sexual attracted to
others of either gender
● Rotary Youth Exchange has a long history of managing very successful exchanges for L, G,
and B students and L, G, and B, host families
● Supporting L, G, and B students and host families – requires very open, honest, and
effective communication on all parts
● Open-mindedness, tolerance, care, and talented experienced volunteers help make the
experience a positive and successful one
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
Some Definitions

8. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Transgender – gender identity – a person whose gender identity or gender expression does
not match the sex marker assigned to them at birth. May include a diagnosis of gender
dysphoria – some transgender people seek medical treatment/hormone therapy/surgery
● Queer (or Questioning) – an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities – may include
gender nonconforming individuals who prefer to present in a way that is non-sterotypical
● Rotary Youth Exchange has very limited experience managing exchanges for Transgender
and Gender Nonconforming students and host families.
● Supporting Transgender or Queer students or host families requires potentially many
additional considerations and steps. – Seek support from people with experience in this area
● Open-mindedness, tolerance, care, and talented experienced volunteers help make the
experience a positive and successful one – but these traits alone are not enough
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
Some Definitions

9. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Consider the student’s relative place along the spectrum of self-discovery, gender identity,
coming out, level of support among parents, friends, schools
● Consider gender dysphoria diagnosis and current and proposed treatment plan
● Consider overseas partner’s level of understanding and commitment to support
● Discuss openly and honestly practical matters – host family and school placement/school
uniforms/changing facilities/continued health treatment and support/hormone therapy
● Rotary Youth Exchange is about students adapting to and accepting a a new environment
● Transgender people’s transition is about others adapting to the transgendered person
● Those two things can only co-exist with great care, counseling and support, and even then
only with an extraordinarily resilient, emotionally mature, and talented students
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
Supporting Transgender Students requires special care

10. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Three-legged stool of support – Rotary Club – Host Family - School
● Create an environment in which students can be themselves
● That means privacy, respect, and freedom to express themselves
● We must truly understand, accept and support our students openly and honestly
● Rotarian leaders, school officials, and host families must actively demonstrate tolarance and
acceptance
● Students self-esteem and self-respect will grow when we build trust and model proper
behavior
● Students must see their Rotarian leaders, host family members, and school officials be
accepting and supporting
● Rotary counselors must be available, caring and supporting if/when things go wrong
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
How to support LGBTQ students

11. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Of course LGBTQ students benefit from support, but so do Rotarians and host families
● In life we will all encounter many LGBTQ people – what better way to learn and practice
healthy behavior than with our Rotary Youth Exchange students
● Parents do not know if their own close family members or friends may one day come out as
LGBTQ
● Consider the apartheid example – personal interactions with people who are different than
we are is the path to world peace
● Consider my personal experience as an Asian woman – I experienced bullying and
discrimination – and I can never forget that, but I learned to overcome
● People are different – all people – so we must learn to respect each other and our individual
differences
● Don’t look at the donut hole – look at the whole donut!
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
Benefits to supporting LGBTQ students

12. 2019 YEO Preconvention

13. 2019 YEO Preconvention
Diversity and Inclusion in
Rotary Youth Exchange
Thank you!!
Michael Parks
mbparks@ryeflorida.org
+1 404 219-0339
Jany Hatanaka
janyhide5@gmail.com
+55 11 97226-9993

14. 2019 YEO Preconvention
● Success stories with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual students and Host Families
● Success stories with Transgendered and or Queer students and Host Families
● Challenges to be considered
Diversity and Inclusion - LGBTQ
Facilitated Discussion– Your Experiences

15. 2019 YEO Preconvention
Diversity and Inclusion in
Rotary Youth Exchange
Thank you!!
Michael Parks
mbparks@ryeflorida.org
+1 404 219-0339
Jany Hatanaka
janyhide5@gmail.com
+55 11 97226-9993

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