Queering Secondary Education: An Inquiry to the Necessity of Queer Studies for All Students

In the current state of secondary education, queer studies are appallingly underexposed. The subject matter is often completely disregarded due to a perceived discomfort around themes and content regarding LGBTQ+ sexualities. This process of elimination is a disservice to all students as they continue their education and move on to the adult world. Queer studies must be included for all students to ensure a society of empathy and understanding. Including the queer identity in the secondary education, classroom gives LGBTQ+ students the usable past that is essential to their wellbeing and mental health, and it provides exposure and understanding for students who fall outside the queer umbrella. This process is not one of addition or elimination, but rather, it is striving to acknowledge the information already present in most curriculums. An educator must create a culturally inclusive classroom that reflects the world in which their students live. Diversity is not simply a matter of race or religion. It is acknowledging and engaging in all aspects of intersectionality within a text, community, and the world.