LGBTQIA+ Allyship for Educators
Close your eyes and imagine standing in your school hallway, watching students, fellow teachers, and staff make their way to their next classes, have hundreds of conversations in passing, and move throughout the bustling school day. Now freeze that scene – who in your view can you identify as being allies for LGBTQIA+ students?
According to the 2017 GLSEN State Snapshot survey, of students in Oregon:
66% have experienced verbal harassment based on sexual orientation.
62% have experienced verbal harassment based on gender expression.
61% have experienced verbal harassment based on gender.
All students deserve to feel safe at school. Research from the Family Acceptance project shows, LGBTQIA+ youth who are shown acceptance and allyship have higher self-esteem and are more protected against depression, substance use, and unprotected sex. It’s imperative that LGBTQIA+ students have visible adult allies within their school and educators take steps to have a more inclusive classroom culture.
Set the Stage for an Inclusive Classroom
As an educator, create an inclusive classroom for your students at the beginning of the school year in a few steps:
1. Create classroom guidelines with your students. Begin the school year by creating classroom guidelines to help solidify expectations surrounding identity, differences, and compassion.
2. Have students participate in a beginning-of-year check-in. This check-in should include the student’s name and preferred pronouns, and can be done with a survey or flashcard. For example, a question could be, “What are your pronouns and are there situations you would want me to use different pronouns?” This question takes into account students who go by different pronouns with their family and/or friends. If comfortable, have students introduce themselves and preferred pronouns to the class on the first day. As the educator, model that guideline too.
3. Make use of the singular “they” and other gender inclusive language. Using inclusive language is a great first step to being a visible adult ally in your classroom.
Instead of…Try using…“When she turns in her homework”“When they turn in their homework”“Ladies and gentlemen”“You all” or “students”“He had his hand raised first”“They had their hand raised first”
These changes can help LGBTQIA+ students feel included and safe in your classroom, and see you as an approachable ally should they need support.
Continue The Effort Through the School Year
1. Integrate LGBTQ+ historical figures and/or role models into lesson plans. Representation matters. Prioritize including LGBTQIA+ individuals into your lesson plans, classroom library, and/or classroom reading lists. The following link is a list of LGBTQ best practices and resources for classrooms from teachingtolerance.org .
2. Utilize opportunities with students to discuss defying gender stereotypes and gender roles/expectations. Support students in recognizing that gender stereotypes can be restricting and ultimately inhibit someone from being their true self.
3. Interrupt homophobic or hateful comments. Always. By speaking up, you create a space where all students know they will be respected and supported. For example:
“In our classroom, we don’t tolerate disrespectful or hateful comments about someone else and their identity.”
“Let’s remember our guidelines of respect and compassion. We do not use those words here.”
“We recognize and respect all religions and beliefs in our classroom AND religion does not justify harassment and disrespect of other students.”
Continue to educate yourself on different supports and ways you can advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community with these resources:
Teaching Tolerance: A website providing resources for educators and other youth serving professionals.
The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
GSLEN.org: A national organization devoted to LGBTQ schools issues.
Gender Spectrum: Gender Spectrum “works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens.”