Talking Points #3 on Gerri August's "Safe Spaces"- Reflection

In Gerri August’s article, Safe Spaces, she discusses the importance of introducing LGBT topics and discussions in the classroom. She goes on to say how teachers especially play an important role in introducing this topic to their students and how to respond when students use anti-LGBT language. While reading this article, I immediately thought of times in middle school and high school when students would say things such as “that’s so gay” to describe something that was uncool or lame. Using these words in a negative manner not only hurts and insults those of the LGBT community, but also gives people the idea that being lesbian or gay is wrong. While reading this article, I also thought of Rodriguez’s article, Aria, and how he had to give up a part of himself in order to fit in with society. In August’s article, she gave examples of how students had to hide who they were in the classroom and how they often skipped a class to avoid feeling uncomfortable. The students were basically giving up a part of themselves to fit in with the idea of societal “norms.”

I also got angry when reading this article when it told stories of how teachers were “reprimanded” for reading books about the different types of families that exist in the world. My mind was blown when reading about how “seven-year-old Marcus was sent to the principal’s office and assigned in-school suspension for using the word “gay” in school.” (95) Marcus was not using the word in a negative manner, but was instead telling another student about his family. Punishing Marcus for using this language portrays being gay in a negative manner and also makes Marcus think that something is wrong with his family.

 I think this article is very important and that anyone who is considering a career in teaching should read it. Learning different strategies of handling the use of anti-LGBT language in the classroom will be very useful when we are in our own classrooms one day. I feel that our generation will be the ones to change how our society thinks. When we become teachers, I think that we will feel comfortable with discussing certain topics, such as race or sexual orientation, because we have grown up in a diverse world.  

Talking Point: While reading both August and Rodriguez’s articles, I thought of the SCWAAMP activity that we did in class and how they relate to straightness, whiteness, and American-ness. It made me think of how the people with power usually fall into more than one of these categories. Do you think that our generation will be more accepting and welcoming to those who are not seen to have the “privilege of power?” Will people still have to give up or hide a part of them that does not fit in with mainstream society?