This lesson plan utilizes a TED Talk and worksheet to introduce the concept of intersectionality and encourage students to reflect upon their own identities. The design of the lesson allows the teacher to gently introduce systems of privilege and oppression. This is especially helpful if this is your students' first time learning about social issues such as these.

I think that it is important to begin the unit with this lesson, as many LGBTQ+ issues are intersectional. For example, many of those involved in the Stonewall Riot were queer people of color which impacts the way they were treated by the police. Additionally, the activity allows students to consider their own identities and how those impact their day-to-day experiences.

This deck of cards features a variety of important LGBTQ+ figures: from Marsha P. Johnson to Hayley Kiyoko to Harvey Milk. Each card has some basic background information from GLSEN. As an activity, I would have the students would each pick a card at random. Then, they would spend some time researching that person (or place, or event, etc.) in order to create a slide with what they gathered.

This helps students practice surface-level research and their public speaking skills. Both of these are important to practice, so this lesson provides a low-stakes opportunity for students to fine-tune their abilities. Additionally, everyone gets to learn about an expansive collection of figures that spans decades.

This source provides both an article detailing the events that transpired at Stonewall and a note about teaching the riots. The note discusses the unclear origins of the start of the riot and highlights the role that queer people of color in the event as well as the movement that transpired afterward. The article connects back to the first lesson on intersectionality as it talks about the connections between racial identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

I would use this article to practice reading critically. Then, I would facilitate a whole class discussion on the events of the Stonewall Riots using a few guiding questions. Hopefully, the students would elevate the conversation beyond the events that occurred to tackle larger issues regarding identity.

The focal point of this lesson is the speech from President Ronald Reagan and the piece of art by Keith Haring (pictured on the bottom right). It also provides a timeline of the AIDS epidemic for students to contextualize the sources presented. It wraps up by talking about methods of activism, including those used by the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS Crisis.

This lesson utilizes two different types of primary sources from the 1980s to examine the reactions to the AIDS Crisis. In history class, it is very important to be able to analyze the point of view, purpose, and historical context of the source. 

The lesson plan provides resources for teaching about the Obergefell case. This includes a video as well as the link to a petition from the ACLU. While the case happened recently (only in 2015) and it not yet a historical event as traditionally viewed, it's very important for students to see the connections between the historical events that are taught in class and what is actively happening around them.

I would connect this to the series of current events that have taken place since June in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision which effectively overturned Roe v. Wade. This case uprooted the precedent set in Obergefell v. Hodges which legally protected the right to same-sex marriage in all 50 states. While the recently passed Respect for Marriage Act aims to continue to protect these rights despite rulings from the Supreme Court, it will be interesting to see how the three branches check and balance one another.