LGBTQ

Education news, analysis, and opinion about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer students or teachers and their experiences in school.

See also: Transgender Students

Montgomery County teacher and Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Willie Carver, in downtown Mt. Sterling, Ky., on May 11, 2022.
Willie Carver is the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and teaches high school English and French in the Montgomery County, Ky., public schools.
Arden Barnes for Education Week
Teaching Profession In Their Own Words 'I'm Afraid to Return to the Classroom': A Gay Teacher of the Year Speaks Out
Willie Carver, Jr., the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, is questioning his future as a teacher given recent anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.
Madeline Will, May 12, 2022
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8 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
States Opinion Searching for Common Ground: The Parental-Rights Bill, aka the 'Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
Rick and USC dean Pedro Noguera discuss Florida's law curbing gender and sexuality talk and its impact on students, teachers, and parents.
Rick Hess, May 12, 2022
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6 min read
Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
School Climate & Safety Fla. School Board Reverses Decision to Censor Yearbook Photos From ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protest
The Seminole County School Board scrapped the plan in response to public backlash.
Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, May 11, 2022
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2 min read
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Student Well-Being Q&A Mental Health Concerns Multiply for LGBTQ Students Who Are Asian American
Culturally relevant mental health programs are needed to help students feel a sense of belonging, report says.
Ileana Najarro, May 10, 2022
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5 min read
Marchers wave U.S. and rainbow flags and signs as they walk at the St. Pete Pier in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday, March 12, 2022 during a rally and march to protest the controversial "Don't say gay" bill passed by Florida's Republican-led legislature and now on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk.
Marchers wave U.S. and rainbow flags and signs as they walk at the St. Pete Pier in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday, March 12, 2022 during a rally and march to protest the controversial "Don't say gay" bill passed by Florida's Republican-led legislature and now on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk.
Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via AP
School Climate & Safety Fla. High School to Cover Yearbook Photos of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Student Protests
Lyman High School’s yearbook features photos of students holding rainbow flags and a “love is love” sign during a walkout protest in March.
Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, May 10, 2022
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3 min read
Illustration showing 4 individuals next to their pronouns (he/him, they/them, and she/her)
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Law & Courts Are Teachers Obliged to Tell Parents Their Child Might Be Trans? Courts May Soon Decide
Some administrators say outing a student could lead to child abuse or self-harm. Parents in court filings say they have a right to know.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 28, 2022
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12 min read
Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol on March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
Demonstrators gather on the steps of a museum in front of the Florida State Capitol in early March as Republicans took up a bill curbing how schools can discuss LGBTQ people. Later that month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Equity & Diversity What's Driving the Push to Restrict Schools on LGBTQ Issues?
A confluence of factors have resulted in a wave of legislation this year targeted at classroom discussions on gender and sexuality.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 19, 2022
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14 min read
Participants with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth march at the annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade on April 9, 2017, in Miami Beach, Fla. Republican-backed legislation in Florida that could severely limit discussion of gay and lesbian issues in public schools is being widely condemned as dangerous and discriminatory, with one gay Democratic lawmaker saying it’s an attempt to silence LGBTQ students, families and history.
Participants with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth march at the annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade on April 9, 2017, in Miami Beach, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Law & Courts Is Florida's 'Don't Say Gay Law' Legal? A New Lawsuit Argues No
Activists say the law violates LGBTQ students' constitutional rights.
Eesha Pendharkar, April 12, 2022
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5 min read
Image of library shelves.
VTT Studio/iStock/Getty
Curriculum How Prevalent Are Book Bans This Year? New Data Show Impact
Two million students in 86 school districts have had access to books restricted due to book bans, according to a report by PEN America.
Eesha Pendharkar, April 7, 2022
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4 min read
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest in the hall outside of the Blue Room as Governor Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the Capitol Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oka. The bill, which easily passed the Republican-led House and Senate mostly along party lines, took effect immediately with the governor's signature. It applies to female sports teams in both high school and college.
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams.
Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP
States Beyond 'Don't Say Gay': Other States Seek to Limit LGBTQ Youth, Teaching
Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 6, 2022
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9 min read
Illustration of a group of people standing together, some were the colors of the trans flag.
Aleksandra Matafonova/iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion Transgender Youth Are Under Attack in the War on Science
Research points to the importance of affirming gender at home, in schools, and in health care, says a developmental scientist.
Robert A. Marx, March 31, 2022
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3 min read
Demonstrators protest inside the Florida State Capitol as lawmakers acted on a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Demonstrators protest inside the Florida State Capitol as lawmakers acted on a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Equity & Diversity Here's What Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' and Anti-'Woke' Bills Actually Say
Two controversial bills involving instruction on issues including race and sexuality have been widely publicized and often mischaracterized.
Eesha Pendharkar, March 18, 2022
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4 min read
Image of a doctor form.
iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Texas Educators Say They Don't Want to Be 'Transgender Police'
The governor says some medical treatments for transgender children can constitute child abuse, triggering mandatory reporting for teachers.
Mark Walsh, March 10, 2022
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8 min read
Conceptual picture of transgender flag overlaying shadows and silhouettes of anonymous people on a road.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
States N.C. Adjusts Student Information System to Protect Transgender Students
The change is drawing complaints from some conservative groups.
T. Keung Hui, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), February 25, 2022
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4 min read
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