Validating LGBT Population Through Educaton

     As I read through "Safe Spaces" by August, Kennedy, and Vaccaro I am reminded of Armstrong and Wildman article "Colorblind is the New Racism".  "LGBT students need advocacy and protection, not neutrality" (p. 84), just as those without privilege and power need those with it to make change come about.  I was again shown where simple assumptions are made and without even knowing it, a teacher may be sending a very different message than the one he or she actually wants to portray, whether intentional or not.  The example of the student in Spanish class who used the correct feminine form of the word but got it marked incorrect because the "norm" would have a female with a male not another female.  In this case, I don't blame the Spanish teacher but I always tell my students to see me to talk about anything they didn't understand or they are still no sure why it was wrong.  I would have liked to speak with this student and absolutely given her the points for a correct answer after the conversation.  
     In the discussion about "Postcards from Buster",I felt it was an awesome way to incorporate so many different ideas and topics in creative ways that can really connect children to the fact that people are different, live different, and believe different.... and it's a good thing, it's diversity.  But like most things, someone with power didn't like the challenging views so put an end to it.  This part I could connect to, as I had two "Arthur" and Marc Brown loving children.  However, the next part I'm embarrassed to say I had no experience with at all.  First, Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" and then "resistance at Stonewall" or the "Stonewall Riots" had not been anything I had heard of, which shows the lack of communication about the LGBT community while I was growing up.  The only connection I could make to learning anything about this was the HIV/AIDS discussion in health where we found out it was a disease that affected mostly gays, lesbians, and drug users who shared needles.  Like white privilege that I had grown up with and didn't notice, I also grew up with implications that heterosexuality is the norm and although lesbians and gays were discussed (although not positively but as different and outside the norm) bisexual and transgender must have been too taboo to bring up as I was not exposed to either in school. 

"Bigotry is a heat-seeking missile- it will find it's target" (p. 84)

     Another thing that struck me was "Many, perhaps most, teachers pretend not to hear anti-gay comments.  (The message youth receive is not that your hearing is compromised- it is either you agree with the prejudicial sentiment or lack the courage to address it)".  I wonder how many teachers dismiss these comments because they are uncomfortable addressing them or because it's just easier to ignore.  Do they see the importance of having the conversation and setting things straight or is it no big deal because they don't see any direct connection?  Whatever the case, I see too many people be bystanders in too many situations.  I've seen teachers, administrators, and other school support staff ignore comments and even physical attacks of some sort in hallways and just outside of the school building, just because they could.  We need to not only get people to talk about these issues but there needs to be supportive actions taken as well.  Be willing to use the words and have the uncomfortable, difficult discussion as Armstrong, Wildman, and Johnson already explained.

     Fortunately, today I do feel that LGBT people are becoming a little more represented in our society with famous actress and actors coming out as part of this group and encouraging support.  From Ellen, Lily Tomlin, and Jodie Foster to Neil Patrick Harris, Ricky Martin, and John Glover these stars can bring some normalcy to others.  There are more television shows and movies with characters representing this population such as "Modern Family", "How I Met Your Mother", "Heroes" and "The Walking Dead" to name a few.  I was most excited to find out there are tons of great literature that can be easily tied to any curriculum.  The Rainbow Book lists will be an invaluable resource to help with including diversity among read-a-louds and small group reading instruction in my fifth grade classroom.  I enjoyed the GLSEN website and although I knew June is LGBT pride month (thanks to Providence's Pridefest) I had no idea October is LGBT history month although the topic should be addressed year round.  I was also thrilled to learn that author, Rick Riordan, addresses LGBT issues in his books (and received the Stonewall award for) "The Hidden Oracle" and "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor" as he was a favorite among my sixth grade students with the Percy Jackson series.  Another fascinating find on GLSEN is that their are graphic novels available as well like "Princess Princess Ever After".  I am excited to see how I can tie some of these books to my curriculum and encourage my colleagues in fifth grade to try it as well.