Blog post: How might we begin to address the ways in which the systems that we teach our curriculum in are intrinsically homophobic, transphobic, biphobic and oppressive towards queer and trans people?

As society evolves, we as educators should be evolving with it. Any of our students or colleges could be a part of the 2SLBGTQ+ community, so it is important to make sure they feel safe and welcome in the school and accepted by their classmates and teachers. Our curriculum is intrinsically homophobic in the sense that many of the literature that is used within English curriculum contains heterosexual characters and stories. Family representation is almost always made up of a mom, a dad and some sons or daughters. Bathrooms and dress codes and awards, are all based around boys and girls. There is no fluidity between gender identity and it can make students feel as if they are not represented in their schools. I think it is important to incorporate queer representation into our curriculum casually, as not to make a “huge deal” of it, but simply expose student to the fact that you are allowed to love who you love, or that it is acceptable to express yourself if you do not feel your assumed gender at birth was incorrect. Keeping the shock out of it, and just making sure it it a normal part of society is important, so students can feel safe, feel represented and everyone can be accepting and understanding.