Teaching While Queer: Advocacy For LGBTQ Folks In Schools & Education To Live & Work As Your Authentic Self

This episode is for educators — especially queer teachers, principals, and school leaders — who care deeply about real inclusion and belonging. Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how well-intentioned “inclusive” classroom practices often end up reinforcing Christian dominance, sidelining Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular families. Together, we’ll examine how public schools perpetuate cultural erasure under the banner of “neutrality,” and what authentic pluralism can look like in action.You’ll Learn:How “inclusive” school traditions often reinforce Christian cultural normsWhy neutrality isn’t neutral — and how law, culture, and faith intersect in public schoolsWhat exclusion looks like for Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular studentsHow queer educators can model pluralistic inclusion rooted in justice and empathyConcrete strategies for creating classrooms that honor all identities and beliefsCall to Action:🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts💬 Subscribe & leave a review to support queer educators🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueerSupport the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!Keywords: inclusive education, queer educators, religious diversity in schools, pluralism in classrooms, decolonizing education, Christian dominance in schools, LGBTQ teachers, holiday inclusionThis podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

 For music and performing arts educators striving to create affirming spaces for every student — this episode is for you. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Dr. Justin Caithaml) (they/them), Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Bridgeport, to explore how gender, sexuality, and policy intersect in the music classroom. Together, they unpack how queer educators can balance authenticity, safety, and advocacy — both for themselves and their students.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to design inclusive classroom “policies” — from pronouns to physical space to performance practicesWhy separating imagined harm from actual harm matters for LGBTQ+ policy decisionsWays administrators can better protect and empower queer educatorsHow music and theatre can model gender expansiveness and disrupt harmful binariesWhy “being bold” and visible creates space for the next generation of queer educatorsAbout Our Guest: 🎵 Dr. Justin Caithaml (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Music & Music Education at the University of Bridgeport. A nonbinary and bisexual scholar, their research explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, discourse, and policy in music education. Their work advocates for affirming practices that allow both teachers and students to thrive authentically within educational systems.Listen & Connect: 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 💌 Subscribe and leave a review to support queer educator storytelling 🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org 📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueer🛍 Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!Resources & LinksBook: Honoring Trans and Gender Expansive Students in Music Education by Joshua Palkki & Matthew GarrettBook: Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler (2024)Article: Jones, Hard and Soft Policies in Music EducationDr. Caithaml’s Research: University of Bridgeport Faculty Page Keywordsqueer music education, inclusive classrooms, LGBTQ teachers, gender-affirming schools, performing arts equity, nonbinary educators, educational policy reformThis podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

This episode is for teachers, school leaders, and DEI facilitators who want to create more inclusive classrooms while navigating fear, burnout, and systemic bias. Bryan (they/them) talks with Sean McGill (he/him) — a Chicago-based educator, anti-bias facilitator, and doctoral researcher — about what it means to teach, train, and show up authentically as a queer man across classrooms, police academies, and digital spaces.Listeners will learn how to:Interrupt bias in real time — even when you don’t know exactly what to sayModel queer authenticity safely in K–12 and adult learning environmentsBuild plans for bias response before harm happensTeach digital media literacy to help students recognize online hate and misinformationBalance vulnerability, safety, and advocacy in conservative or high-stakes contextsSean also shares insights from his upcoming dissertation on inclusive education and how his fourth-grade classroom became a model for age-appropriate queer visibility.Key TakeawaysSilence is complicity. When bias shows up, saying something matters more than saying it perfectly.Representation saves energy. Being visibly queer in education helps students imagine new possibilities for themselves.Digital literacy is bias literacy. Our media habits shape our worldviews and fuel polarization.Bias management > bias elimination. Awareness and response are the skills we must actually teach.Bravery is a muscle. The more we lean into discomfort, the stronger our justice practice becomes.About Our GuestSean McGill (he/him) is a Chicago-based educator, facilitator, and doctoral candidate in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy at National Louis University. A former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Sean has spent over a decade leading anti-bias and digital literacy workshops for students, educators, and law enforcement nationwide. His work centers inclusive education, identity visibility, and the power of conversation to interrupt systemic harm.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.Resources & LinksMuseum of Tolerance – Combat Hate ProgramThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024)National Louis University – Ed.D. in Curriculum, Advocacy, and PolicyTeaching While Queer Keywordsqueer educators, bias interruption, inclusive education, digital media literacy, LGBTQ teachers, anti-bias training, queer representation in schools, managing implicit bias

This episode is for school librarians, elementary educators, and district leaders who want to create truly inclusive and affirming library spaces—without fear or burnout. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Bec Anderson (they/them), a nonbinary librarian from Kansas, to talk about what “Reading the Rainbow” really means, how librarians can push back against book bans, and why visibility matters in small communities.Key Takeaways:How to build a library collection that mirrors your students’ lived experiencesPractical ways to make queer and diverse representation visible in subtle, safe waysThe power of book choice as a pathway to empathy and lifelong learningHow administrators can support librarians during book bans and budget cutsWhy inclusive books benefit all students, not just marginalized onesAbout Our Guest: Bec Anderson (they/them) is a Title I school librarian in central Kansas with seven years of experience in education. Formerly a fourth-grade teacher, Bec now leads the “Reading the Rainbow” initiative—helping librarians and teachers ensure their collections reflect the full spectrum of student identities. They’re currently pursuing a master’s in Library Science and advocate fiercely for inclusive, student-centered literacy practices.Resources & Links:“Reading the Rainbow” session notes from Teaching While Queer Conference (available soon)We Need Diverse Books initiative — https://diversebooks.orgAmerican Library Association: ALA’s Office for Intellectual FreedomListen: wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe: to Teaching While Queer Visit: teachingwhilequeer.org Follow: @TeachingWhileQueerSupport the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.Keywords: inclusive literacy, queer librarians, book bans, diverse classroom libraries, LGBTQ education, equity in schools

What does real allyship look like when the stakes are high? In this powerful episode, Bryan (they/them/elle) talks with Françoise Thenoux (she/ella) — also known as @TheWokeSpanishTeacher — about how educators can move from performative allyship to courageous co-conspiracy through inclusive, non-binary Spanish language and classroom practices.🌈 You’ll hear:How non-binary and gender-neutral Spanish is reshaping classrooms across the AmericasWhy true allyship requires risk, courage, and communityPractical steps for educators to create linguistically and queer-affirming spacesThe story of one student who changed Françoise’s entire approach to teachingThis episode is for allies, language teachers, and anyone working to make schools more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students and educators.👉 Subscribe, review, and visit teachingwhilequeer.org or follow @TeachingWhileQueer for more inspiring stories.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.Keywords: queer pedagogy, inclusive Spanish, LGBTQ+ educators, gender-affirming classrooms, allyship in education, non-binary language, linguistic justice

What does it mean to be a queer teacher in a faith-based school? In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with author and ritual designer Bill Hulseman (he/him) to explore his path from Catholic school teacher to educational leader to full-time ritualist and writer.• Navigating authenticity and inclusion as a gay man in Catholic education• How ritual, faith, and teaching intersect to shape culture and community• Lessons on burnout, conscience, and leaving the classroom with integrity• The story behind Bill’s new book Carry the Casket and Wanting to Say the MassThis episode is for queer educators, faith-based teachers, and allies reflecting on identity, vocation, and resilience in education.Find links and resources at teachingwhilequeer.org and follow @TeachingWhileQueer for updates.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.Keywords: queer education, LGBTQ+ educators, Catholic schools, inclusive teaching, authenticity in education, queer spirituality, teacher burnout

In this special episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on the inaugural Teaching While Queer Educators Conference, held on October 11, 2025—a global gathering of queer educators, allies, and advocates transforming education through authenticity and collective care.• “Belonging isn’t just entering the room—it’s redesigning it.” • How storytelling became a tool for organizing, resistance, and liberation • Lessons from sessions on union power, media strategy, and affirming visibility • Why cultural shifts must come before policy shifts—and how to make both happen • The joy, kinship, and courage that sustain queer educators everywhereThis episode is for queer teachers, allies, and anyone committed to creating inclusive, affirming, and liberatory classrooms.Find links and upcoming conference archives at teachingwhilequeer.org and follow @TeachingWhileQueer for updates.Keywords: queer education, LGBTQ+ educators, inclusive teaching, queer pedagogy, gender-affirming classrooms, liberatory education, educator conference

“I had to become a fully integrated person—same at home, same in class, same everywhere—or I couldn’t keep teaching.”In this powerful conversation, Bryan sits down with Rodney Wilson, the Missouri educator who founded LGBTQ+ History Month and made history as the first openly gay K–12 Missouri teacher to come out to his students. Together, they unpack the intersections of queer identity, teaching, and resistance—from the origins of LGBTQ+ History Month to the modern-day fight against censorship and “Don’t Say Gay” laws.Listeners will learn:How queer teachers can teach truth without “obeying in advance” to fear-based policiesThe untold story of how LGBTQ+ History Month began in 1994Why visibility in the classroom still matters—for students, staff, and societyFor queer educators, allies, and anyone who believes in teaching for liberation, this episode is both history and a call to action.Tap play to remember where we’ve been—and how we keep moving forward.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

They called him a danger just for existing as a gay teacher—then they went after his students.In this powerful replay, Kentucky Teacher of the Year Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. shares his story of being relentlessly targeted by groups like Moms for Liberty and the systemic failures that put queer teachers and students at risk. From book bans and “parental rights” laws to death threats and harassment of LGBTQ+ youth, Willie exposes the escalating hostility toward queer educators in public schools.Listeners will hear:How school districts often protect parents’ hate over students’ safetyWhy visibility matters for LGBTQ+ teachers, even when it comes at a costThe inspiring grassroots movement of queer youth building Rainbow Freedom Libraries in KentuckyThis episode is a raw, emotional reminder of what’s at stake in classrooms today—and why queer educators refuse to be erased.👉 Tap play to hear Willie’s story of resilience, advocacy, and hope for LGBTQ+ students and teachers everywhere.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.