American colleges and universities often refer to their "dedication to diversity". The truth is, some institutions really make an effort, and some only offer lip service. This article discusses ways on how college institutions can provide a more welcoming atmosphere to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (glbt) students through use…

This educational kit focuses on the safe education of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students. It includes four sections that examine: (1) "Introduction" (e.g., why it is important to address homophobia in sport, educator responsibilities, and who this educational kit is for); (2) "The Core Program: Video and…

Queer pedagogy is rife with possibilities for outdoor educators to challenge the status quo of heterosexism and sexism. From recognizing and addressing the heteronormative assumptions that influence the outdoor classroom, to subverting oppressive gender norms, to noticing the cultural constructs through which we view nature, queer pedagogy can…

Examines an educational workshop at Metropolitan State University, which seeks to increase inclusion, acceptance, respect, and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students. Discusses how the program considers situations unique to GLBT students and educates faculty and staff about GLBT issues. (GCP)

Presents one teacher educator's experiences working to transform the classroom by telling his own stories and coming out to his students early in the semester. The author believes that by sharing his story with his students, he shows them how to embrace freedom and enter into communication with each other in states of being, not seeming. (SM)

Discusses the importance of creating safe school environments for gay and lesbian students. Anti-gay bias has been called the last acceptable form of discrimination in the United States, and many U.S. public schools are complicit in cultivating this intolerance. Describes one public and one private high school's efforts to make safe environments…

Paula Ressler, an English teacher, suggests unconventional ways to work with William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in the secondary school English curriculum to challenge normative sexual and gender identity beliefs. Reading queerly to explore non-normative sex and gender identities and reading for social justice have the potential to…

The educators find it very difficult to create contexts for learning about difference such as homophobia in the public schools. The communities are challenged to respond to the topics related to sex and sexuality while confronting homophobia that are normally avoided by the classroom teachers for political and personal reasons.

Based on questions submitted by our readers, this Q&A covers such issues as the correct language to use when working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; what to do when a youth first "comes out"; how to present yourself as an ally for LGB youth and make sure that your youth program is a safe place for them; and increasing non-LGB youths'…

This paper identifies some of the resources the author has found and used to help future teachers become fully inclusive teachers, particularly of early elementary students. Through sharing these resources--children's literature, a children's literature textbook, edited books for teacher educators and pre- and inservice teachers, and a video--the…

This paper draws on recent poststructural, psychoanalytic, feminist, and queer theorizing to analyze progressive pedagogies described by homosexual physical educators and professors. It is based on two life history projects conducted with physical educators. The overall purpose of the research was to examine the social construction of female…

It is important to encourage both "visible students" and "invisible students" to establish self-confidence and to live naturally, being themselves. It is also important to help students grow as humane adults who can accept diversity, respect each other, and support minorities. This article presents a lesson plan that aims to help students learn…

As teachers committed to educating all students, we need to learn more about how instructional materials shape representations of sexuality and gender. Through its insistent deconstruction of the norms that structure practice and belief, queer theory offers perspectives from which science educators can question assumptions embedded in textbooks.…

A student who confesses he is gay and a teacher who must hide her sexual identity make us question how much has changed in the past few years and what we need to do hasten change now. (Contains 8 resources.)

This chapter examines changes in preservice and continuing teacher professional development that are aimed at addressing sexual minority issues in schools as students' learning places and teachers' workplaces. (Contains 1 note.)