BWW Pride Essay: The Positive Influence of Current Events: A Catalyst for Inclusion

This summer has been a media frenzy. Controversies have taken over our Facebook newsfeeds and rainbow overlays and geofilters have highlighted some of our favorite LGBT news events of the year. Hot topics in LGBT news have made their way into prominent discussions throughout the country and Caitlyn Jenner became a household name. Some favorite reactions to the recent SCOTUS decision have included videos of children proving to older generations that marriage equality is not a difficult reality to accept. We could all stand to follow the lead of compassionate children.

As the school year approaches and students flood the hallways, these topics will find their ways into the jumble of the cafeteria, bus rides, and even some classrooms. Debates heard surrounding education are often about what should and should not be discussed in a public school, who should be protected from what, and what place does any mention of sexuality have in an AP Calculus class? While not all teachers, or administrators, or members of the school board will agree on the answers to the questions above, what all parties should agree on is the importance of the safety and well-being of the students. Many districts around the country are currently discussing how to amend and alter policies to cover more ground and include LGBT students. With each attempt to improve and expand school policy there comes a fervent opposition afraid that their children will somehow be "turned gay" if the district protects queer students from being bullied at school. As with any school policy there is no option that will please every party involved, but the administration needs to continue to push towards a positive environment for their students. If it is not written policy that students cannot be discriminated against or bullied based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, then a public school is not doing its job to truly provide education for the entire community.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment is not exclusive to policy creation and written words from the administration. Regardless of the presence of official district code and ruling, classroom teachers and faculty can play a crucial role in fostering an accepting community within the school. When entering the classroom each day it is important to consider the current events that could impact your students whether or not it has anything to do with the subject matter that you are teaching. It is not your job to agree with the opinions of your students nor is it your job to judge their lifestyle, but it is important to have the means to help your students to have a successful year.

More likely than not, at the beginning of the year you will receive a neatly organized roster of your students. This roster will include their name, an "M" or an "F" indicating their sex assigned at birth, and perhaps their home address or birthday. This list gives you a snapshot of your class but it does not tell you nicknames, preferred pronouns, or the students who choose to go by a different name. It can take the duration of the school year to get to know your students, their quirks and personalities, to know which students look forward to gym class and who anxiously await time in the band room. To start the year off on the right foot you might consider leaving room for students to indicate preferred pronouns, or for them to ask you to call them by a name other than that which is listed on the roster. An openness and willingness to be accommodating will immediately establish a sense of a safe atmosphere and comfortable space for students of all identities. Students will know that they can feel at ease and comfortable in your classroom, it will alleviate a stressor from their day. Similarly, if a student approaches you

and asks that you call them by a different name or that they prefer pronouns other than the ones you are using, respect their request without questioning their reason. Again, it is not your place to judge or comment, but to respect their wishes just as you would a student asking you to call them Katie instead of Katherine.

Another easy way to create an inclusive space is by eliminating gendered sorting. Seating students boy-girl-boy-girl or having a boys' line and a girls' line to walk down the halls could force students into uncomfortable spaces. For a student who does not identify within the gender binary or may not be comfortable identifying as a girl or a boy, this can become a very stressful situation. There are many other ways that students can be organized; consider having a blue team and a gold team in your classroom to match your school colors or split the class in half by the month of their birthdays. Rearranging your thinking in this way takes no explanation to your class as to why you wish to organize things a bit differently and could help make your students feel at ease. Above all else, there is no real necessity to gendered organizing. We have long since stopped herding the boys into shop class and the girls to learn to cook and sew; lining up students by gender seems to be a similarly antiquated tradition kept only out of convenience and comfort of the teacher. This practice which symbolizes the value of heteronormativity and the gender binary within our school systems and society can so easily be done away with.

If you yourself are struggling to get on board with marriage equality or are still lost when it comes to how you should view Caitlyn Jenner and her transition, these aforementioned suggestions may seem unnecessary or absurd. One thing that is important to remember, however, is that not all of your students are necessarily struggling in the same way that you may be. If you do not feel comfortable addressing these topics or providing students with support, find someone who is willing to. It is perfectly acceptable to refer your students to a teacher or member of the school community who you know is willing and able to give them the attention and support that they need. Make the effort to take note of the supportive members of your academic community that might have newer or better resources than yourself. Even if you are a wealth of information, perhaps another member of the school is more knowledgeable or a school-sponsored LGBT group could serve as a positive space. Provide your students with options and help them to create a safe space for themselves within your school community.

The role as a teacher is not limited to the knowledge in the textbooks, the theories, or the end of the year performance; the dedication is not only to the content and test scores. The focus of any classroom includes the success and well-being of the students who the teacher is serving. While it may not be within your jurisdiction to provide your students with gender-neutral bathrooms or non-gendered graduation attire, there are simple things that will make your classroom a safer space for everyone. So as the summer comes to an end and your days turn from the sunny beach to hours in the classroom, keep an open heart with your students always at the forefront of your mind. The smallest actions could make a world of difference for a student accustomed to living in a binary centric world.