Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in the Classroom

 Being located in the south means that I am constantly being bombarded by new anti-LGBTQ legislation. There's a lot of talk as I am sure you have heard regarding banning drag shows. In all actuality, the drag queens are not harming our impressionable youth. It is the removal of LGBTQ education and health care.

A Gay-Straight Alliance school bus float from Seattle Pride 2008.

 

In 2021, multiple bills were passed to harm the LGBTQ community, including Senate Bill 0126 which prohibits minors from accessing Hormone Replacement Therapy, House Bill 0003 and Senate Bill 0228 that require students participating in sports to play as the sex indicated on their birth certificate, and House Bill 1182 that requires businesses to post warnings outside of their restrooms that indicate that they allow those to choose which restroom to use according to their gender identities. These offensive bills aiming to criminalize trans people are often used in conjunction with negative social attitudes to demoralize LGBTQ individuals. Instead of instilling conservative values into our youth, these bills are putting putting LGBTQ lives in serious danger. According to The Trevor Project, 45% of LGBTQ youth contemplated ending their lives in 2022, and 14% even made an attempt. 

What can teachers do in the classroom in response to this crisis? Although educators may not be enough to change the current legislation, they can definitely pose a lasting impact on the students they serve. First and foremost, every teacher should strive to make their classroom feel comfortable for the diverse range of students who enter it. This includes representation via texts, lessons, and decor that show the value

Marsha P. Johnson, a gay rights activist who was one of the main figures of the Stonewall uprising in 1969

of this particular community. This also means discussing and modeling the importance of pronouns, gender expression, and diverse family structures. It is also important to establish a connection to your students, especially those who are marginalized. If a student is openly out, it is important to check in to make sure their needs are met at home and that they are safe. It might even be appropriate to make a list of local resources for students to access who may be are disowned by their families or facing other distressing home situations. Aside from simply supporting our LGBTQ students within our private classrooms, educators must also advocate for them outside of the classroom door. This could be supporting a Gay-Straight Alliance within your particular school or possibly standing up for LGBTQ students when peculiar school policies come into question. Gay rights are human rights and deserve to be fought for to provide inclusive education for every student.