scholarly journals Are You Gay, Sir? A Review of the Literature Concerning the Experiences of Gay Male Educators

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane Town
Keyword(s):  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
School Environments ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Gay Students ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Gay And Lesbian Youth ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Gay Teachers ◽  
Lesbian Teachers

This article reviews the literature available from overseas and in Aotearoa that investigates the experiences of gay and lesbian teachers in secondary schools. In doing so it explores the role that homophobia and heterosexism play in creating school environments that are often hostile to lesbian and gay teachers and students. These “forces” operate to maintain the segregation between gay and lesbian youth and gay and lesbian teachers creating a climate of fear based on myths of paedophilia, recruitment and deviancy. The damaging effects of this institutionalised homophobia on the daily lives of gay male teachers is examined. Using overseas experience as a guide, suggestions as to how to create safe schools for lesbian and gay students and teachers are explored.

Can gay and lesbian educators form authentic relationships in their school communities?

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven D Hooker
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Identity ◽  
School Setting ◽  
School Community ◽  
Catholic School ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
School Communities ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
Meaningful Relationships ◽  
Lesbian Teachers

The purpose of this study was to determine how gay and lesbian teachers who are out or closeted form and maintain relationships with members of their school community. A total of 11 gay and lesbian public and Catholic school educators from rural, suburban, and urban schools were interviewed. Each of these educators negotiated their sexual identities differently within their school communities, allowing them to form or not form relationships with colleagues, students, and parents. Descriptors such as age, experience level, and school setting, however, did not affect how open they were to establish authentic relationships with others in their schools. Most of these educators were unable to negotiate their sexual identity with their teacher identity due to fear of being authentic due to possible harassment and even being fired, keeping them from forming any meaningful relationships in their workplace settings. This study does, however, have strong implications toward developing policies that are inclusive for all lesbian and gay members of the school community.

School counsellors' responses to homosexuality and to lesbian and gay students

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42
Author(s):  
Adriana Fallone ◽  
Daphne Hewson
Keyword(s):  
Support Services ◽  
Inservice Training ◽  
Curriculum Material ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
Supportive Services ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Gay Students ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
School Counsellors ◽  
High Range

NSW School Counsellors were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards homosexuality and their experience and willingness to work with gay and lesbian students. Most counsellors showed low to moderate homonegativism, but 16.6% scored in the high range. Less knowledge, experience, and past training on homosexuality issues were significantly related to homonegativism, as was unwillingness to participate in future activities and workshops dealing with lesbian and gay students' issues. Many counsellors had a poor knowledge of existing support services. Counsellors who were willing to provide supportive services for gay and lesbian students expressed a need for resources, information kits and curriculum material, inservice training, executive support and a positive Departmental policy.

Opening Up the Classroom Closet: Responding to the Educational Needs of Gay and Lesbian Youth

1989 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Rofes
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
Lesbian Youth ◽  
Gay And Lesbian Youth ◽  
The Status ◽  
Opening Up

Eric Rofes, gay community activist and author, explores the issues surrounding the schools'failure to meet the educational needs of gay and lesbian youth. He argues that there has been an across-the-board denial of the existence of gay and lesbian youth, and that this has taken place because "their voices have been silenced and because adults have not effectively taken up their cause." Rofes goes on to present some promising initiatives that are designed to change the status quo: Project 10 in Los Angeles and the Harvey Milk School in New York City. He concludes by proposing needed changes in U. S. schools if they are to become truly accessible to gay and lesbian youth.

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