‘Jen Gilbert’s’ Influence on the Topic of Sexual Minorities in the Education System

     Researching through a hefty list of influential scholars and educators was a difficult task.  As all people have their own intentions in life.  Teachers and educators have their own pedagogies, beliefs and opinions in the classroom.  So narrowing in on one individual was a challenge.  

     Ultimately I choose to take them to better understand educator and teacher Jen Gilbert, and her steps and influential effects on the Education system.  Gilbert is a professor at York University.  Jen Gilbert teaches courses ranging from topics such as Sexualties and Education, Adolescent Development and Health, Inquiries into Learning and even a Student Initiated Collaborative Inquiry.  Gilbert believes in supporting research projects that highlight interests like youth studies, sexuality education and LGBTQ issues present in education.  Choosing Gilbert was myself trying to take a step to further understand minority communities, in a way of being an ally and supportive teacher for those who connect with these topics and minorities.  

     Within this response, I choose to look at her co-written article titled ‘Naming New Realities: Supporting Trans Youth in Education.’  This article discusses points such as “debates about the Safe Schools Coalition, an LGBTQ resource for schools, have led to the cancellation of this programme on a national level because of the media fuelled trans and homophobia” (Gilbert, para 1).  As a human being this injustice gets under my skin.  As a future and growing educator and teacher this problem gets under my skin severely.  As no person should feel as though school is limiting their knowledge, rather than enhancing it.  Nevertheless this cancellation of helpful and overall beneficial programs are being erased from the school system and has severely damaging effects on many many people.  

     Before this research paper I was aware of battles the trans and LGBTQ communities battle consistently within the school systems but outside as well.  One of the neverending battles this minority community faces is “access to equal educational opportunities, including the right to access bathroom toilets and changing room facilities” (Gilbert, para 1).  Meaning those from LGBTQ communities continue to experience life as the other and are denied rights that every person should possess.  

     Jen Gilbert puts values on making minorities rights well understood and accepted.  Professor Gilbert wants the mission statement for the future to be:  “fluidity of language” (Gilbert, para 3).  As educators and teachers Gilbert wants us to understand the importance of discussing language and terminology.  Terminology is crucial to making all feel recognized for who they want to be as a person and individual.  As teachers Gilbert wants us to value terms and pronouns as much as we do names.  Pronouns and respective terms are essential creating a safe space for all students in the classroom, school and education system.  In other words terminology, pronouns and the importance of discussions requires there to be a huge shift in curriculum all over Canada.  

Work Cited:  

     Gilbert, Jen.  March 12 2018.  Naming new realities:  supporting trans youth in education.  Taylor & Francis Online.  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14681811.2018.1452347 

          Keele, Glendon and Markham Campus.  Jen Gilbert Professor.  York University.  https://edu.yorku.ca/edu-profiles/index.php?mid=7047