Creating an Inclusive Curriculum and Classroom Environment for LGBTQAI2S+ Students

I would like to host a workshop (a lecture followed by small group discussions and a large group discussion) on how to create a more inclusive curriculum and classroom environment, specifically for LGBTQAI2S+ students. Drawing from my own experiences as a queer person, scholar, educator, and long-time activist in my community, I would like to offer insight to my colleagues about strategies that they can use to expand the scope of their courses to include the cultural contributions of those with intersectional experiences and perspectives.

At the same time, the presentation will address the importance of language, namely identifications and pronouns, as being at the core of in-class communities intent on fostering mutual respect amongst students, as well as between students and teachers. I think that this is a topic that can be beneficial to all attendees regardless of where they are on their own journey as educators and as people. The goal of the workshop would be to help participants to develop strategies so that they can envision, develop, and create LGBTQAI2S+ inclusive curriculum and classroom environments.

The session would be divided into three parts: a slideshow featuring terminology and works of art that will prompt a discussion about representation and inclusion, small breakout groups in which participants discuss a cluster of related works, and a full group discussion about what was learned.