How Music Educators Can Build Queer-Inclusive Classrooms | Ep. 184 (with Dr. Justin Caithaml)

For music and performing arts educators striving to create affirming spaces for every student — this episode is for you. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Dr. Justin Caithaml) (they/them), Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Bridgeport, to explore how gender, sexuality, and policy intersect in the music classroom. Together, they unpack how queer educators can balance authenticity, safety, and advocacy — both for themselves and their students.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to design inclusive classroom “policies” — from pronouns to physical space to performance practices
• Why separating imagined harm from actual harm matters for LGBTQ+ policy decisions
• Ways administrators can better protect and empower queer educators
• How music and theatre can model gender expansiveness and disrupt harmful binaries
• Why “being bold” and visible creates space for the next generation of queer educators
• 
  

About Our Guest:

🎵 Dr. Justin Caithaml (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Music & Music Education at the University of Bridgeport. A nonbinary and bisexual scholar, their research explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, discourse, and policy in music education. Their work advocates for affirming practices that allow both teachers and students to thrive authentically within educational systems.

Listen & Connect:

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Resources & Links

• Book: Honoring Trans and Gender Expansive Students in Music Education by Joshua Palkki & Matthew Garrett
• Book: Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler (2024)
• Article: Jones, Hard and Soft Policies in Music Education
• Dr. Caithaml’s Research: University of Bridgeport Faculty Page

Keywords

queer music education, inclusive classrooms, LGBTQ teachers, gender-affirming schools, performing arts equity, nonbinary educators, educational policy reform

This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.

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