It’s not unknown that the American education system lacks an educational standard, however what is more concerning is the absence of learning on drag and LGBTQ+ history in most social studies and health classes across the nation. It can be bewildering to learn just how far the United States has progressed in queer representation and rights over the past decade. And teaching the newest generation is just the start to continuing a linear hope to end discrimination against Pride.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, a GLSEN’s study conducted in 2013 showed that less than five percent of schools cover same sex relationships in their health classes, failing to address the identities and livelihoods of identifying students. In 2019, a similar study was conducted showing only nineteen percent of students nationally felt that their school had taught positive representations of LGBTQ+ events, history and in their schools. There is a lack of inclusivity and learning to children, the silence can cause more hurt than taking a general stance.
Further studies proving this educational lack can be damaging to youths exploring and discovery their sexual identity, as there is a lack of representation and acceptance in the classroom. The Trevor Project, a national group that primarily focuses on Suicide prevention among youths that identify as LGBTQ+, show that a school environment that is positive is more significant in saving lives compared to other atmospheres like work and even the home.
The Stonewall “Riots”, Greenwich Village/New York City/New York (1969)
Overall, less than twenty percent of teachers in America integrate LGBTQ+ history in their lesson plans. In fact, five states actively discourage it; Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma continue to have laws forbidding teachers to discuss the subject in a positive narrative. This includes queer media, like book publications in libraries and community events. But on the contrary there are some states trying, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and Oregon have a mandated curriculum to be LGBTQ+ inclusive.
Teaching LGBTQ+ history is American history, its global history and its queer history. It can save the lives of young people, and there are better educational outcomes when a student feels comfortable in their environment. Furthur, it's a way to address LGBTQ+ bullying in schools and preach acceptance and new values. The Trevor Project showed that schools with a gay-straignt alliance club had a larger percentage of kids that did better in school and rated the school enviornment higher.
The Equality Act of 2021 is one of the most recent changes in the US to address this epidemic of ignorance. The Center of American Progress conducted a study in 2020, revealing that one in three LGBTQ+ Americans and three in five transgender Americans have experineced discrimination in the past year. A concerning amount. The Equality Act is to enhance the fair treatment of not just the LGBTQ+ community, but also women, people of color and of any religion.
The Matthew Shepard Protests, Laramie/Wyoming (1998)
But how will the Equality Act make a difference in schools? The act protects teachers and students teaching and learning about the subject from discrimination or violations of the school or community beliefs. In the past, teachers could face termination for identifying as queer or even teaching about it in their classrooms. The Act also makes it mandatory for schools to teach inclusivity and a diverse sense of history.
Understanding spark plug moments like the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and hate crimes like the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard that happened around twenty years ago, is essential in learning because it tells the story of how severely LGBTQ+'s were marginalized and treated differently not so long ago and even still today in America. Young people like Matthew Shepard, lose their lives to this ignorance living and thriving in schools and in towns refusing to teach acceptance and broaden their lesson plans.
Exposure and understanding drag and modern gender expression is influential to developing minds that are in need of a tolerant community.
But why is it important outside of school? A lack of eduaction, results in a community of ignorance and bigotry. A 2018 report of FBI data in the US, showed that one in five hate crime related incidents related to sexual orientation bias were motivated by anti-LGBTQ+. Sixty percent of that number targeted gay men. Making it more important to teach the current narrative of the LGBTQ's in America, as problems are still prevelent and imacting many lives today. It could save a lives.
Commemoration of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, Chicago/Illinois (2016)
The history of the LGBTQ+ community is too moving and important to be brushed aside by the retelling of the Revolutionary War for the "umf" time in US history classes. Teaching about gender, drag, same sex health and more has proven to be beneficial to not only student lives but the community too.
There are changes like the Equality Act just recently passed, but there are still active haters refusing to learn and wreaking havoc on a community founded on love and acceptance. As the world progresses, hopefully so will education. A school day that speaks about Stonewall and Orlandok, in efforts to not repeat the tragedies and fates many marginalized people have unfortunately delt with. Free the minds of youth discrimination and expand education to make everyone feel included. Teach tolerance.
-Angela Santoleri-
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