LGBTQIA+ in the Classroom

"Everyone is different” is something that, I think, most people could agree on. Their life experiences, upbringings, preferences-- every person is a unique individual, and this is something that we, as educators, must acknowledge in and out of the classroom. But we have to go a step further with that statement, "Everyone is different, and that is okay!" Crazy idea, right? Well, to some people it just might be, and that is exactly why I would like to discuss LGBTQIA+ experiences and how we may ensure our classroom is a place that welcomes everyone.

A neighborhood shows its
support for the LGBT community
by hanging rainbow flags on their homes.

LGBTQIA+ is one of the many acronyms for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Queer community (with much variation in these terms, such as the communities of Intersex folks and Allies in this initialism). This term has been in use since the 1990s, but the members of its community have existed long before such labels. These labels may seem new and unfamiliar to some, but these communities have been around forever, just with different names and experiences. We can look at ancient societies, for instance, and see remnants of loving relationships, often obscured or destroyed as societies have encouraged secrecy and shame rather than love and acceptance. From a perspective of both history and empathy, we must acknowledge and ensure that members of the LGBT community feel comfortable, respected, and heard in the classroom-- just as everyone should! This comfort in the classroom is of utmost importance to the success of not just a child's education but of their experience in life.  

Personally, I believe it to be my priority in teaching that my students feel safe, respected, and comfortable to be their true selves in the classroom. I have firsthand seen the effects that discrimination and intolerance have had on students, whether it is misogyny or homophobia. We must remember that the classroom has no place for making any student feel lesser for how they express themselves or how they simply are. There is no taking sides when it comes to ensuring a child feels safe, happy, and respected in their classroom. At the end of the day, a person is a person, and a kid is a kid-- so who are we to do anything but respect their identity and make them feel at home in our classroom?

As a history educator, I ask that people keep an open mind regarding the experiences and identities of others. Time and time again, we have had major shifts in perceptions on the differences of others. It was only in 1954 that Brown vs. the Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in school was unconstitutional, thanks to the work of tireless activists who sought to demolish negative perceptions of differences. If people did not see such changes in society, stop for a moment, and reflect with an open mind, then we would have lost even more lives to intolerance and discrimination. And if changes in history do not sway you, then I hope a basic sense of respect, kindness, and empathy for others in my classroom will instead.