Tips For Teachers (LGBT)

TIPS FOR TEACHERS
COMING OUT OF THECLASSROOM CLOSET
IF YOU ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, OR TRANSGENDER (LGBT)

Coming out to students is a very personal decision. However, more and more people are doing it, and therefore these are some suggestions on how to do it based on the experiences of openly LGBT teachers.

1. Take a reality check of your school environment. Remember, private schools are not governed by anti-discrimination laws.

2. Be sure that nondiscrimination policies are in effect for your school district.

3. Be appropriate in the way that you disclose your sexual orientation.

It might be in the form of a matter-of-fact response to a question posed by a student.
It might be in the form of a lesson on prejudice or an incident of name calling.
It might be in the context of a discussion of current events such as the discovery of a possible gene for the cause of homosexuality, or a social issue such as gays in the military.
It might be in the form of your participation in some community event.
It might be in a way that hasn't been mentioned here, but always it should be casual, not strained, and with you, not the students, in charge of the discussion.

4. Be careful not to allow the conversation to drift into the area of sex. Sometimes students will try to do that, but mostly they will ask questions like, "When did you know you were gay?" "What did your parents think? " Or, "Have you ever been afraid of losing your job?" You can decide how much Information you want to give them, and what is appropriate for YOU.

DON'T EVEN THINK OF COMING OUT UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO FACE WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES MIGHT OCCUR, SUCH AS CRITICISM FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES OR DISAPPROVAL FROM THE PRINCIPAL. GENERALLY THE STUDENTS ARE OKAY WITH IT. THAT ISN’T ALWAYS TRUE FOR ADULTS. BE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND HOW TO EXERCISE THEM.