Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice

Pre-compliance is the quiet killer of queer visibility in schools—don’t hand them your silence. In this charged episode, we unpack three major 2025 court rulings—from the U.S. to the U.K.—and what they do and don’t mean for LGBTQ+ teachers. If you’re feeling pressure to erase queer content, change your classroom, or withdraw support for trans students, stop. You are not alone—and you're likel...

“We eloped because we were scared—scared of what would happen when the new administration took over.” In this powerful follow-up, queer Latina art teacher Sharon Tang returns to share the deeply personal and undeniably political story behind her marriage, her homeownership journey, and the emotional toll of teaching during a time of cultural crisis. From zine-making as resistance to students heali...

Your authenticity is not small—it’s a radical act of defiance. In this heartfelt solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on five transformative lessons from their conversation with queer icon Jeffrey Marsh. Together, they explore what it means to teach with joy, show the seams of your process, and create classrooms that radically affirm LGBTQ+ identity. For queer educators and LGBTQ+...

“You’re not doing a little podcast—what you do is not little.” In this heartfelt Pride Month episode, host Bryan Stanton and viral educator Jeffrey Marsh dive into what it means to teach, live, and lead while queer—especially in a world that seems to both need us and fear us. This episode is a love letter to LGBTQ+ teachers navigating doxing, isolation, and the politicization of their existence. L...

You don’t have to wave a flag to be radical—but you do have to survive. In this special solo episode, host Bryan Stanton shares five transformative takeaways from his conversation with Jed Dearybury—LGBTQ+ educator, illustrator, and champion of joy in South Carolina schools. This is for every queer teacher navigating visibility, safety, and joy under pressure. In this episode, you will: Learn how...

Jed Dearybury faced death threats and political attacks—just for being a gay educator who spoke the truth. In this searing episode, Jed shares how being visible as a queer teacher in South Carolina put a target on his back—from right-wing Twitter mobs to local politicians who openly threatened his job and safety. Despite the harassment, Jed continues to teach, speak, and advocate with joy, humor,...

Pride Month ends—but your queerness doesn’t. For queer educators, June often brings rainbow logos and empty gestures—while silence reigns inside the school walls. In this episode of Teaching While Queer , host Bryan Stanton (they/them) digs deep into what it means to reclaim Pride as a daily practice of resistance, authenticity, and survival. You’ll learn: How to transform performative Pride into...

She was investigated three times—for creating a safe space where kids could be seen. In this searing conversation, queer elementary teacher and mom Adriana Tune shares what it’s really like to show up as your full self in a conservative district. We unpack what true allyship means, how institutional fear erases queer families, and why queer visibility in elementary schools is both powerful and ris...

Pride Month can feel hollow when your school ignores your existence. For queer educators, visibility isn’t just a celebration—it’s survival. In this episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how to reclaim Pride as a purposeful, daily practice when your institution stays silent. With both tenderness and tenacity, Bryan speaks directly to queer teachers navigating erasure, fear, and exhaustion. Th...

“I wasn’t even out to my union.” That single admission reveals the quiet, daily compromises many queer educators make. This episode pulls back the curtain on the hidden emotional labor and risks faced by LGBTQ+ teachers in today’s climate. In this episode, you will: Discover how coming out can transform an educator’s relationship with their students and coworkers Learn the personal costs of stayin...

What if just five small shifts could radically change how your students feel seen, safe, and celebrated in your classroom? In this episode of Teaching While Queer , Bryan Stanton breaks down five transformative practices inspired by his powerful interview with theater educator Tim Cusick. These aren't abstract theories—they're real, actionable changes that can turn any classroom into a q...

What happens when queer identity, vulnerability, and education collide in a college theater classroom? This episode dives into the powerful intersection of pedagogy, queerness, and the transformative potential of performance. Join adjunct theater lecturer Tim Cusick as he shares how his experiences in queer youth theater and his own identity shape his inclusive approach to teaching. From students...

What if the most radical thing you could bring into your classroom isn’t resistance—but joy? In this celebration-filled episode of Teaching While Queer , Bryan Stanton flips the script on traditional trauma narratives in education and makes the case for joy as a transformative force in queer pedagogy. Too often, we focus solely on surviving oppressive systems. But what happens when we center laugh...

What if praising queer educators for being “resilient” is actually just another way to keep them exhausted and unsupported? In this episode of Teaching While Queer , host Bryan Stanton pulls back the curtain on the myth of resilience — especially for queer educators who are trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, or multiply marginalized. Through personal stories, critical insights, and tangible strategies, Brya...

Are you a queer educator struggling to balance authenticity with classroom safety—and wondering if sharing your story can actually build trust? In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) explores how embracing your queer identity and personal narrative can create safer, more inclusive learning environments—without putting yourself at risk. Drawing inspiration from educator and paranormal medi...

What if building an inclusive classroom started with sharing your personal truth—and the voices from beyond? In this episode, Rob Gutro, a queer paranormal medium and adult educator, reveals how he weaves spirit communication, lived experience, and openness into his classroom to create a radically inclusive and trusting space for learners of all backgrounds—especially LGBTQ+ adults. In this episod...

What if the people building safe spaces in schools are the ones who feel the least safe? In this deeply personal episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) explores the emotional and professional toll of being a queer educator in a system not designed to protect—or even acknowledge—you. If you’ve ever felt like teaching as your full self comes at a cost, this episode will resonate hard. In this episo...

What do you do when your job, your identity, and your safety are all under political attack—just because you’re an LGBTQ+ educator? If you're a queer teacher—or support one—you’ve likely felt the chilling effect of anti-LGBTQ+ policies creeping into schools. This episode breaks down exactly what’s happening across the U.S. and globally, and why educators are sounding the alarm. In this episod...

Feeling like you have to stage a protest just to make a difference as a queer educator? Visibility isn’t about shouting the loudest — it's about being present, real, and intentional in ways that matter to your students and your school community. After my conversation with Anthony Nicodemo, it’s clear: you already have everything you need to make a real impact. In this episode, you'll lea...

Have you ever wondered if being visible as a queer educator could actually transform your students' lives? Many LGBTQ+ educators and coaches feel isolated, invisible, or unsure how to advocate for themselves in spaces that still carry outdated stigma — especially in athletics. This episode shows how living authentically can open doors, challenge stereotypes, and create safer, stronger communi...

Feeling the pressure to be “loud and proud” in a school environment that isn’t safe? What if quiet authenticity could be just as powerful? In a time when overt displays of support for LGBTQ+ students can feel risky—or even be banned—many queer educators are wondering how to still show up, protect their peace, and make an impact. This episode explores the subtle, strategic choices that send signals...

Can subtle shifts in language and presence make more impact than bold declarations when supporting LGBTQ+ students? In a time when visibility can feel risky and performative gestures fall flat, quiet consistency and intentional language may be the most powerful tools queer educators have. This episode explores how affirming youth doesn’t always require loud activism—sometimes, it’s the quiet momen...

Feeling like you're constantly code-switching just to survive in the classroom? If you’re a queer educator trying to create safer spaces for students while holding onto your own identity, you’re not alone. This episode dives into what it really means to show up authentically in education—without sacrificing your sanity or safety. In this episode, you will: A fresh perspective on how queerness...

What happens when a college theater class becomes the one place where students feel safe enough to be fully themselves? This episode dives deep into how the arts—especially theater—can offer more than creative expression. In many classrooms, it's become a sanctuary where students explore gender, identity, and self-worth. From fluid pronoun usage to discovering strength through performance, th...

Are you a queer educator feeling the pressure of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, online harassment, or rising fascist rhetoric in schools? In this episode, we dive deep into the current wave of attacks targeting queer teachers and offers grounded, practical strategies to protect yourself, build community, and stay in the fight—without burning out. Whether you're in a hostile district or just feeling alone,...