Pride in Education

RAAC Community Engagement Officer, 2024

Happy Pride!

This month I've decided to share a piece of my journey as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Flashback to 2009 – I had just started my master's program in art education. In the middle of my first semester, I found myself at an LGBTQIA+ Career Panel. The panel was asked for advice to aspiring educators. Their response? "Change your major."

Art Education Grad Student, 2009

But I ignored their advice. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of an exciting journey filled with ups and downs.
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During a Curriculum and Instruction course, my professor encouraged LGBTQIA+ educators to keep their identities to themselves. She even suggested LGBTQIA+ educators relocate to more accepting communities. This kind of ignorance inspired me to research LGBTQIA+ issues in education. I was determined to learn from the past to prepare for an uncertain future.
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What started as an exploration of LGBTQIA+ educators' lives transformed into a mission to foster safe spaces and inclusive curricula for LGBTQIA+ students. I shared my research with a supportive art education community. I presented at conferences while finishing grad school.

Art Education Community, 2010

Then, in 2012, I became a teacher in a conservative area. Despite several supportive allies, whispers of gossip and discrimination reminded me that I didn't belong. I continued to work in this community for 8 years. I witnessed a gradual shift in perception of the LGBTQIA+ community at my school and across the country. As time went on, I found others to support advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Classroom, 2017

Since then, I've had the opportunity to work in mostly LGBTQIA+ supportive environments. From schools championing GSA groups to colleagues marching in Pride Parades, these actions speak volumes.

My experiences led me to advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in art education. While this work has been met with both encouragement and criticism, my mission remains clear: to help educators create inclusive curricula and classroom environments that support all students.

I've created a resource page on my website for educators interested in supporting their LGBTQIA+ students. You can find out more here.