Teaching with Pride: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Art Education

In many cases, school is the first environment where young people encounter slurs or insults directed at the LGBTQIA+ community—and unfortunately, those words often surface in the art room, too. When such language is met with minimal response or brushed off as harmless, students internalize a harmful message: that LGBTQ+ identities are something to ridicule or ignore.

As art educators, we are uniquely positioned to challenge that message. The art room is already a space for self-expression, cultural exploration, and identity. We have an incredible opportunity—and responsibility—to make it a safe, affirming space for every student.

Why LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Matters in the Art Room
Despite broader efforts to address bullying in schools, homophobia and anti-LGBTQIA+ bias remain under-addressed. Research shows that more than 70% of LGBTQIA+ students experience harassment or victimization in school, which significantly affects both their emotional well-being and academic performance.
The visual arts offer a powerful way to respond—not just through policies and practices, but through the curriculum itself.

Actionable Steps for Art Educators

1. Establish a Clear, Inclusive Code of Conduct
Start by ensuring your classroom expectations include respect for all identities, including those related to gender and sexuality. Set boundaries around language and behavior, and reinforce them consistently. A classroom that celebrates diversity begins with making all students feel safe and seen.

2. Address Language and Bias Directly
When homophobic or transphobic language is used, don’t ignore it. Use it as a teachable moment to explain why such language is harmful and how it affects others. Help students connect their words to real people—not just “concepts” of identity—so they understand the impact of their actions.

3. Bring LGBTQIA+ Artists into the Curriculum

Too often, LGBTQIA+ representation in education is limited to health class, reducing identities to discussions of sexuality rather than acknowledging full, lived experiences. Art history and contemporary practice are rich with contributions from LGBTQIA+ artists—include them in your lessons as naturally as you would any other artist.
Consider artists like:

• Keith Haring – whose bold, graphic works often addressed AIDS awareness and LGBTQ+ rights.
• Derrick Adams – a contemporary American artist whose work explores Black identity, joy, and culture through vibrant mixed-media portraits, installations, and performance.
• Rachelle Lee Smith – a Philadelphia-based photographer known for her powerful project Speaking OUT: Queer Youth in Focus, which combines portraiture and personal narratives to amplify the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth.
• Nina Chanel Abney – a New York-based contemporary artist known for her vibrant, layered compositions that explore themes of race, gender, politics, and pop culture through a blend of abstraction and figuration.
• Kehinde Wiley - an acclaimed American artist renowned for his vibrant, large-scale portraits that reimagine classical European portraiture by featuring contemporary Black subjects.
• Lisa Congdon - an American artist and illustrator known for her vibrant, colorful work that spans fine art, illustration, and hand lettering, often celebrating themes of feminism, social justice, and creativity.

When teaching technique or art history, integrate discussions about how an artist’s identity influenced their work. Doing so not only affirms LGBTQIA+ students but helps all students appreciate the full range of human experience expressed through art.

4. Encourage Self-Expression and Exploration
Give students opportunities to explore their identities through their own work. Art is a natural outlet for students processing who they are. Whether or not students openly identify as LGBTQIA+, they benefit from an environment that values authenticity, expression, and empathy.
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5. Support Student Initiatives and Resources
If your school has a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) or similar club, show your support. Promote inclusive events, share resources, and point students toward affirming counselors and community organizations. Representation outside of the curriculum matters, too.
Final Thoughts: Art as AdvocacyArt class can be more than a place for creativity—it can be a refuge, a platform, and a mirror. When we include LGBTQIA+ voices, experiences, and histories, we not only support LGBTQ+ students—we enrich our entire classroom community.
Education thrives when it reflects the world students live in. By integrating LGBTQIA+ artists into your curriculum, modeling inclusive behavior, and creating a welcoming studio environment, you offer students a deeper, more meaningful engagement with art—and with themselves.

Collaborating for Excellence
If you are interested, I created a learning module on LGBTQIA+ Inclusion for the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA). In this module, you will learn how to integrate LGBTQIA+ Inclusive topics and artists into your lesson and instruction.

Reflection for Art Educators:

• How often do you include LGBTQ+ artists or themes in your curriculum?
• What steps can you take to ensure every student feels safe and affirmed in your art room?

Let’s use our classrooms to reflect the vibrant, diverse world we live in—and ensure every student knows that they belong.

Fore more LGBTQIA+ Resources, visit my resource page at:
​https://www.mrdewildeart.com/lgbtqia-support.html