In 2021, teachers Lindsay Valve and Lindsay Cavanaugh interviewed a number of K-12 educators (both those who are 2SLGBTQIA+ and those who are not), asking them what resources would help them better support 2SLGBTQIA+ students. Many of those who were less comfortable teaching about queer and trans issues said it was because they were worried they would do the work “wrong.”
It’s understandable that some teachers might worry about being “wrong”— teacher education programs do not require that teachers learn about gender and sexuality. This means that many teachers have been systematically denied education about queerness and transness.
Making mistakes is a part of learning, but it’s also important to learn how to respond to mistakes with care. Learning about 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is a literacy that requires practice, both for those who are part of queer and trans communities and those who are not.
Become 2SLGBTQIA+ Literate was developed and crafted to support educator learning, as educators bring queer and trans perspectives and history into classrooms.
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![Five slips of paper in blue and white on a black background, with childlike handwritten text on each, including: “Do you guys have crushes on other men or women? Do you kiss?”; “How do you know when another man is gay?”; Have you flurt [sic] around with a guy in school”; “How do you react when you see another man that you like”; and “Do you like being gay!”](https://arquives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/13.-Elementary_School_Homophobia_Program.jpg)
