As a queer person, being open about my sexuality in my classroom and the school I work at is a crucial aspect of me honoring my identity and building an honest relationship with my students. Being out and transparent about my identity helps me to foster an inclusive and supportive space for students to open up to me about their own identity. In addition to this, for non-queer or even homophobic students and staff, my visibility challenges preconceived stereotypes and prejudices they may have. It forces them to see a queer person as an integral and positive part of their community and that kind of exposure is a necessary step towards breaking down barriers and fostering empathy and understanding in a diverse educational environment. Representation and exposure to diverse perspectives also encourage empathy and understanding among all students. This art gallery is a way for me to showcase the strength and importance of the queer community as well as, the beauty of queer love, and queer joy.

Growing up I had no exposure to queer representation in media, my personal life, or in school. It wasn’t until I was 23 that I fully embraced my own identity and came out to my friends and family, and I often think about how different my experience would have been and how profound of an impact it would have been to have queer people/stories included in the curriculum or to have an openly queer teacher. These experiences shaped my belief that schools should not only educate students but also celebrate the diverse identities of every student, and make them feel represented in both the curriculum and the culture of the school. This is crucial because when students see their cultures, experiences, and identities reflected in what they learn, they are more likely to engage and feel valued as individuals.

In my Social Jusice Education: Oppression, Resistance, and Liberation class I had the opportunity to create a virtual art gallery for my final project. The purpose of my virtual art gallery is to serve as a space that highlights the strength, beauty and resistance of the queer community with a focus on Black lesbians and trans women of color. Creating this gallery as well as being out and proud at work helps me to engage in critical reflection about ways that personal identity, history, culture, and ideology relate to educational practices. Furthermore, by creating a gallery that reflects on the oppression faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and those most marginalized within it, it not only brings people along with me in my personal reflection but encourages the observer to do the same.