Education News Autumn 2022 | Page 19

Education News | Page 19 to use their chosen name , because it ' s not " on their file ," and that they were unable to learn about queer sexual health at school . I ' ve heard so many stories , and it gets so disheartening , especially when a lot of these stories are about teachers and administrators who claim to be allies .
In my Master ' s program , I had another professor who consistently misgendered me and the other trans students in her class . After weeks of this , I finally explained to her that when she misgenders me , it makes it harder for me to focus and learn . She responded with gratuitous apologies , but explained that it was hard for her , and she didn ' t mean anything by it . She kept misgendering me and my friends . I stopped engaging in that class .
Kyla : Examples of unsupportive behaviours include using binary language ; resisting someone ' s pronouns ; not acknowledging microaggressions ; heteronormative language , resources , authors , and so on ; a lack of conversation about diverse identities ; and an absence of representation .
What is your advice to the Faculty of Education ( and other Faculties of Education )?
Jacq : We need to go further than 2SLGBTQ + inclusive education , or
GSD inclusive education — we need to aim for queering education , for queer pedagogy , for trans pedagogy , and for education that liberates all of us from homophobic and transphobic systems .
Christie : Let ’ s keep doing the work – begin by continuing to recognize that there is still work to do . And let ’ s keep making things better for all our students .
James : My advice is to continue to explain , teach , and show and tell that every person in the world has a sexual orientation and a gender identity and that , beyond any simple binary , such diversity , complexity , and fluidity is not just healthy but actually necessary for social and ecological systems in the Anthropocene .
And don ' t think of sexual orientation and gender identity in schooling as an " administrative problem " to deal with , but a human issue involving uniquely real people who deserve to be embraced with the dignity they deserve .
Kyla : I have taught the EHE 487 class a number of times . It ( or a similar course ) should be a required course for all education students . We should ensure that the co-operating teachers with whom we are placing our preservice teachers have the understanding of anti-oppressive