Gender and Sexuality Commons^™

Queering/Querying Educational Spaces: The Lgbtqia2+ Learning And Affirming Challenge, Jennifer L. Bonnet, Liliana Herakova, Tausif Karim

Feminist Pedagogy

Legislation regulating learning content and approaches seek to limit exposure to and consideration of non-cis-heteronormative ways of being and knowing (Sawchuk, 2022). Denial of access to a more difference-affirming curricula reinforces hegemonic cultural norms (Chen & Lawless, 2018). Research on the college experiences of LGBTQIA2+ identifying individuals indicates a generally chilly campus climate, recognizing that “colleges and universities have historically been shaped by and for cisgender, straight individuals” (Pryor, 2017, p. 36). Educators can play a key role in reshaping this reality by co-constructing affirming environments where learners can generatively engage with difference and grow their capacities for cultural responsiveness …