Creating inclusive classrooms and a school environment that promotes LGBTQIA+ inclusion is essential for the learning and development of students. It helps them develop both in and out of the classroom, as they understand themselves and those around them.

School should be a place where students feel safe to understand and explore their own identity. And after all, that’s why they’re at school – to learn and develop!

Promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion and creating inclusive classrooms isn’t just beneficial for queer students though – it’s also a chance for young people to understand other people’s experiences. It helps them develop understanding and empathy, important skills that benefit young people in so many different ways well into their adulthood.

Unfortunately, we still see 2 in 3 young people discriminated against, based on their identity. But these stats can change, and the school environment plays an important role in this.

As teachers, there are ways you can support your students and create a classroom that is LGBTQIA+ inclusive. Here are six tips from the Minus18 Team:

1. Encourage open, safe conversation

Learning about gender and sexuality can introduce a range of new ideas and topics in to the conversation. Some students may be well versed in these terms, but for some, it may be the first time they have heard certain concepts, or been in an environment where they are being freely discussed,

As with any new topic explored in the classroom, ensure that students are able to ask questions and be curious. Create a space where their questions are encouraged and answered.

2. It’s okay to not know the answer!

Just as some of the topics may be new to your students, they may also be new to you – and that’s okay! As teachers, it can feel a little uncomfortable not having the answers, but consult other resources and experts in the area to ensure your students have the most up to date information.

We host LGBTQIA+ inclusion training sessions, and can come to your school! Our Education Team can visit your student cohort to facilitate these learning moments for you, or we can visit your teachers to arm them with resources.

We also have a number of free articles that you can use in the classroom, all there to help you understand a range of definitions and concepts.

3. Celebrate days of significance

Visibly celebrating queer identities is so important! There are a number of days of significance (check out our free LGBTQIA+ Calendar!) that you can celebrate in the classroom to signal to your students that their identities matter.

You could celebrate days like IDAHOBIT or Wear It Purple Day, or seasons like Pride Month or Mardi Gras, or even moments that are linked to individual identities like Trans Awareness Week, or Lesbian Visibility Day.

It could be worth checking in with your students or school pride group, and seeing if there are particular days that resonate with them and their identities. That way your students are also part of the process, and are more involved in the celebrations!

4. Display posters and resources

Visibility and education are intrinsically linked. We want our students to ask questions, show curiosity, and learn about LGBTQIA+ identities. By displaying resources, it shows that it’s a safe space to ask questions and learn more about what they don’t know.

It also validates your LGBTQIA+ students, and anyone that isn’t sure or is questioning their identity. It reminds them they are loved and supported for exactly who they are.

5. Encourage pronoun communication

We use pronouns everyday – both to address ourselves, and to address those around us.

It’s important to remember that you can’t know someone’s pronouns just by looking at them. One of the best ways to ensure you are using the right pronouns is to ask the person, if you’re not sure!

Create an environment where there is an understanding of correct pronoun use, and how to check in and share pronouns. It’s also a great way to talk about respecting others, and the importance of language!

6. Embed queer history and representation in your curriculum

Ensuring that queer history and queer identities are included in your curriculum is a great way to engage your queer students, and to also create room for discussion and curiosity.

During Pride Month, you could learn about the history of the Stonewall Riots, or people like Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

Studying a particular time period? You could discuss what queer rights looked like then, or spotlight key queer icons and celebrities from that particular time.

WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT BUILDING INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS? BOOK A WORKSHOP FOR YOUR SCHOOL.