October is LGBTQ History Month. This edition of The Moment includes our brand-new guide to serving LGBTQ students—complete with tips for bringing LGBTQ history into your curriculum. We're also proud to debut our new podcast Queer America (which features the stories of queer life we should have learned in school) and to honor Matthew Shepard, who died 20 years ago this week.
Last week, a 7-year-old black boy came home from school with a realistic-looking gunshot wound painted on his forehead—by his drama teacher. The image understandably alarmed his mother. And it reminds us of the harm educators inflict when they insist they "don't see race." We hope you'll read and share these recommendations for protecting, respecting and celebrating the identities of your black students.
So much has happened this year, so we want to acknowledge our new Teaching Tolerance community members. We have compiled some of our favorite resources for educators as we work together to achieve more equitable schools. Whether you’ve been with us for a while or you’re brand new to TT, welcome! We appreciate you and all you do.
Celebrate Pride Month by taking action to support LGBTQ+ youth in increasingly hostile school environments and in our communities. The new spring magazine feature “A Refuge for LGBTQ+ Young People” explains students’ rights and how gender and sexuality alliance (GSA) clubs provide spaces for young people to thrive. This new article and these LFJ resources highlight that everyone benefits when inclusivity is intentional.
