August

As a queer person, I have a lot to say about this subject. Buckle up.

I want to talk about one section of this text specifically: Curriculum.

August says, "Sexual orientation topics are entirely absent from nearly half our elementary teacher educator programs in America."

This is absolutely mind-blowing to me. I would believe it more if it was "absent from half of the elementary schools in America." But the fact that it isn't there for people who want to become teachers is scary. The teacher needs to be taught how to handle LGBTQ issues. Maybe if my teachers were taught this they would have included it in the curriculum for their students and then I would have understood more about myself sooner and maybe I would have come out sooner. Even in sex ed class, it's here's what happens between a man and a woman. No mention of sexuality or gender or anything like that. No wonder I was confused.

I think it's also important to teach future teachers about it because it'll probably weed out the people who shouldn't be teachers. If a person enters a classroom wanting to be a teacher and it becomes quickly obvious that they are homophobic or "not comfortable" then they probably shouldn't be teachers. If they continued on to be teachers and said something negative to a kid about the LGBTQ community, that can really stick with a kid.

I found a great website from Accredited Online Schools that gives a good resource for teachers and people in general on how to help LGBTQ students. Everyone should have at least some of this knowledge.