“If he didn’t walk around telling people that he’s gay, there wouldn’t be any problems.”
-Sadowski,2008, p. Kindle edition 2476 from Adolescents at School

This chapter on LGBTQ students in schools was very enlightening. I was surprised by the number of students who still face discrimination in schools, despite the advancement of LGBTQ rights in today’s society. I was struck by the quote above as I feel that as educators, it is imperative that we address LBBTQ issues head on. I am a firm believer in open discussion with students and I find it disheartening that teachers could be the cause of harassment and feeling unwelcome in schools. In light of recent political events, I think of a recent SNL skit that discussed how the popular dating app tinder has multiple options for gender identity, citing this as “the reasons the democrats lost the election”. I feel that the new tide in preventing progressive gender identity can be dangerous. I feel that I personally should not be allowed to have stake in how someone chooses to identify. I think that open mindedness is so important in teaching adolescents. As the chapter mentions, a Gay-Straight alliance can and will help students who identify as LGBTQ and who do not, learn to co-exist peacefully in school and hopefully beyond. I think that schools should be a safe space for students who chose to be openly LGBTQ. For some, due to family beliefs, school may be the only place they are accepted and can truly be who they are. Teachers should create a space in their classroom and throughout the school where students feel safe. I hope that teachers act as positive leaders that demonstrate the importance of treating all students with respect. The teacher who said the above quote is the one causing problems. A student should be able to be openly and fully themselves, especially in school.