LGBT Teachers Are Being Forced to Retreat to the ClosetJudy Molland, September 3, 2013 6:00 am
Remember the excitement on June 26 when the Supreme Court struck down California's Proposition 8 and a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act? Many of us celebrated on this day, so happy that the U.S. was finally moving forward.
For LGBT teachers, that celebration was premature.
Across the country, thousands of LGBT educators are forced to hide themselves to avoid being harassed or discriminated against by coworkers, parents and administrators, or even losing their jobs...
A recent study reveals that LGBT teachers are less likely to confront homophobia in the classroom, for fear of being labeled "gay" themselves. Gay and lesbian teachers are less likely than their heterosexual colleagues to discipline students when they witness homophobic bullying at school, for fear of drawing attention to their own sexuality and putting their careers at risk.
Teachers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered are also scared to intervene when they hear homophobic language, including when children use the word "gay" as a term of abuse.
They have reason to be scared.
