Reflections on “Teacher Town Hall: Sparking Change for LGBTQ+ Youth”
Tri Ho
Empowering Educators and Communities through LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practices
At our first Teachers' Town Hall hosted by Pride and Less Prejudice, educators, community organizers, and librarians came together to discuss the critical role of inclusivity in educational environments. Participants from various backgrounds shared their innovative strategies and personal experiences in integrating LGBTQ+ inclusive practices into their classrooms and community spaces. Overall, the event – highlighting themes of inclusive curricula, community building, censorship, and advocacy – was a powerful reminder of educators and community leaders' critical role in shaping a more inclusive early learning environment and an equitable society.
Inclusive Curricula and Community Building
Katy Butler’s journey from a classroom teacher to an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusivity is a compelling example of how educators can extend their impact beyond traditional teaching roles. After leaving her teaching position in 2022, Katy founded Out & About Bookshop, a mobile LGBTQ+ children’s bookstore offering workshops and resources to foster gender-inclusive environments. Her work is driven by the need to provide LGBTQ+ students with literature that reflects their identities, as evidenced by a moment when a student recognized themselves in a book, exclaiming, “Wait, that is a book about me.” Even though her work received mixed reactions from the communities, she recognized that it is “important to ground this work in anti-racist and anti-colonial work.” She hopes that she can eventually bring parents into the conversation. Katy’s transition from educator to advocate exemplifies how individuals can leverage their expertise and passion to drive social change within the classroom. To check out her work, visit genderinclassrooms.com.
Another notable speaker came from Naomi Avadanei, an art educator at the Ella Baker School in the Upper East Side of New York City. Naomi introduced her students to Calvin by JR Ford and Vanessa Ford—a book that helps families understand and support children’s gender transition. Naomi’s initiative did not end with just reading the book; she expanded on it by working with her students to adapt an original musical based on Calvin. Throughout the writing process, Naomi not only fostered a connection between her students and the characters but also allowed them to explore what might be missing from the narratives about transitioning. Naomi also arranged for her students to meet with the book’s illustrator to design and personalize their production elements. During the town hall, colleagues praised the project for its student-centered approach, while PLP’s Executive Director, Lisa Forman, found Naomi’s story particularly inspiring.
Noa DeSimone and Szarina Saunders, educators at St. Ann's School in Brooklyn, have pioneered a transformative project by reviving their community library. Inspired by comments from a teacher’s professional development conference, Szarina started the community library to centralize her school’s educational resources and create an accessible “in-house” hub for teachers. The library has books, including some PLP titles, focusing on themes like socio-emotional learning, identity, culture, community relationships, and social justice. One PLP feature in their library is the book “One of a Kind Like Me,” accompanied by a PLP teaching guide that prompts students to explore their identities. This initiative also provides a structured way for students to discuss these themes with their families and peers.
Challenges of Censorship and Advocacy
The town hall also shed light on the challenges faced by educators in the face of increasing censorship attempts, particularly around LGBTQ+ and BIPOC narratives. Forrest Evans, also known as “Your Favorite Librarian,” emphasized the role of librarians and educators as defenders of free speech and highlighted the recent disturbing trend of censorship in educational resources. In the recent 2024 legislative session in Georgia, where legislators proposed over 20 anti-trans and homophobic bills, librarians have been instrumental in safeguarding educational resources from censorship. Despite these censorship attempts, they could not pass any restrictive bill, highlighting a significant victory attributed to persistent activism. Evans also cited a substantial rise in attempts to censor diverse voices, with a staggering 92% increase in targeted titles at public libraries over the previous year. This surge underscores the escalating need for librarians to remain vigilant and proactive. Her advocacy extends to encouraging others to get involved by understanding library policies, reporting hate groups, participating in community meetings, and voting. You can check out her work at yourfavoritelibrarian.com
Christian Fuscarino and Justine Evyn Saliski stand at the forefront of an educational revolution in New Jersey at Garden State Equality. Their leadership has made New Jersey the first state in the United States to mandate a comprehensive LGBTQ+ curriculum, setting a precedent beyond California's earlier legislation on teaching LGBTQ+ history in the classroom. Following the passage of this inclusive curriculum legislation, there was significant backlash from conservative groups and parent organizations. These groups have not only resisted the curriculum but have also aimed to roll back broader transgender protections. In response to these challenges, Fuscarino and Saliski have actively engaged at the local school level, empowered students to craft and deliver their speeches at Board of Education meetings and advocated for their rightful representation in the school curriculum. This student-centered leadership led to a Youth Advisory Board comprising twelve members, which spearheads initiatives crafted "for young people, by young people." You can check out their work at gardenstateinequality.com
Unorthodox Learning
Dani Carlin's innovative work at the Little Naturalist preschool in St. Paul merges nature-based education with socio-emotional learning, integrating outdoor activities into the classroom. Their approach hinges on embracing the land and all living beings to create an inclusive space for families and students historically marginalized from outdoor experiences, such as the Black and Indigenous Communities. The curriculum is further enriched by a specialized workbook that helps students articulate their emotions and navigate conflicts. This workbook is a reflective tool for students to check in with themselves and strengthen the bonds between caregivers and students. You can check out Dani’s work at littlenaturalists.online
Phillip Lee, co-founder of Lee & Low and Readers for Eaters, contributes to this nurturing educational environment by integrating elements of food inclusion into the learning frameworks. His work is inspired by Sandor Katz, a renowned food writer whose works, like "The Art of Fermentation," use fermentation as a metaphor for societal change and explore food preparation's cultural significance and communal aspects. He said, "Fermentation is all about accepting change, and change happens all the time, even if it is in the air." We thank Phillip for donating 200 copies of "Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild" by June Jo Lee and Jacqueline Briggs Martin to our organization. With their thoughtful contribution, Pride and Less Prejudice gave all attendees a free book bundle, including the books he donated.
We thank everyone for coming! You can check out our upcoming events at prideandlessprejudice.org
