As someone who is a member of the 2SLGBTQA+ I may have a different perspective or view that someone who is not, may have. I can remember my own schooling experience and the judgemental looks, comments and questions I would be asked. To begin addressing the ways in which we teach certain aspects of the curriculum can be seen as oppressive towards queer and trans people we must have a conversation with students who are members to ask what they think they need. Each student who is a member of the 2SLGBTQA+ community will need different things and have different emotions towards certain aspects of things. There seems to be an imaginary idea that because we are a part of the community that all our needs are the same and we all fit into this neat box of only wanting acceptance and gender neutral bathrooms. That is furthest from the truth. As each person has different needs so do members of the community, of course gender neutral bathrooms are important and acceptance but giving these two things does not mean all the boxes of needs are checked for other members. There needs to be conversation of safe sex, healthy relationships, terminology, teaching about the difference in gender and pronouns and sex. The grade 9 ‘Health Curriculum’ covers healthy relationships for dating, but does not talk about it in a form of 2SLGBTQA+, further proving that our curriculum is ignoring the idea of same sex relationships. Another thing would be teach students about the happenings of same gender sex, so that students don’t receive the questions and a sixteen year old is teaching about safe gay, lesbian sex to her peers so that they will stop asking her ‘what happens in the bedroom’. To allow for a safe space for 2SLGBTQA+ members, and make them feel comfortable expressing themselves. I remember not coming out because it was simply easier not to, and easier than to place a spotlight on yourself for questions, comments, and judgement from peers or adults. All in all, asking the students of the classroom in a general way while opening up space for discussion and make it known to your 2SLGBTQA+ students that you are there to be someone who will help, without directly calling out students who are believed or known to be members of the community, make it a general call out for discussion and allow the students to come to you.
