Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.

Six Promises for Queer Educators in 2026 | Ep. 187 (with Bryan Stanton)

In this New Year continuation of the December 25th reflection, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) turns from reflection to direction. This solo episode names six promises—practices, boundaries, and strategies—for queer educators in 2026, and closes with a powerful New Year’s blessing rooted in the realities of today’s classrooms.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to define success beyond survival.Ways to bring queer truth into curriculum safely and meaningfully.What sustainable visibility looks like for educators under scrutiny.How to interrupt bias and harm in real time.Why joy, boundaries, and community are professional practices.A closing blessing of hope, protection, and belonging for the year ahead.If this message resonates, share this episode with one educator who needs it, and leave a review to help Teaching While Queer reach others who teach while surviving and thriving.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!Keywords: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.boundaries, visibility, curriculum, student support, policy climate, joy as resistance, burnout recovery, community care, reflection, identity safety, belonging, professional sustainability, K–12, higher ed, admin, arts educator, Healing, burnout, and sustainability, Newly out at work, Student support & classroom practice, Hostile policy climate / crisis weeksThe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educate, Advocate, Celebrate: What Queer Educators Built in 2025 | Ep. 186 (with Bryan Stanton)

This year, queer educators didn’t just survive — we built something that can outlast the moment. 🌈 In this reflective solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) revisits the major themes that shaped 2025 for LGBTQ+ teachers: quiet resistance, authentic storytelling, and the radical act of joy. From the Teaching While Queer Educators Conference to episodes that redefined advocacy, Bryan invites listeners to pause, reflect, and name the impact they’ve made — even when no one was watching.This episode is for every LGBTQ+ educator, school counselor, or ally who needs a reminder that strategy and community—not perfection—are what sustain us.You’ll learn:How “quiet power” became a model for queer resistance in 2025Why self-care isn’t enough — and what true institutional support looks likeThe revolutionary lessons from the Teaching While Queer Educators ConferenceHow storytelling is strategy, not an afterthoughtWhy joy is a professional and political actAbout Our Host:Bryan Stanton (they/them) is the founder and host of Teaching While Queer, an educator, theatre artist, and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools. Their work centers on helping educators find sustainable, justice-rooted ways to show up fully—without erasing themselves in the process.Call to Action:🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts💬 Share this episode with one educator who needs it🖥️ Visit teachingwhilequeer.org📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueerKeywords: queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive classrooms, quiet resistance, teacher burnout, queer storytelling, educator community, queer joy in educationSupport the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When “Inclusion” Means Erasure: Decolonizing Holiday Practices in Schools | Ep. 185 (with Bryan Stanton)

This episode is for educators — especially queer teachers, principals, and school leaders — who care deeply about real inclusion and belonging. Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how well-intentioned “inclusive” classroom practices often end up reinforcing Christian dominance, sidelining Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular families. Together, we’ll examine how public schools perpetuate cultural erasure under the banner of “neutrality,” and what authentic pluralism can look like in action.You’ll Learn:How “inclusive” school traditions often reinforce Christian cultural normsWhy neutrality isn’t neutral — and how law, culture, and faith intersect in public schoolsWhat exclusion looks like for Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular studentsHow queer educators can model pluralistic inclusion rooted in justice and empathyConcrete strategies for creating classrooms that honor all identities and beliefsCall to Action:🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts💬 Subscribe & leave a review to support queer educators🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueerSupport the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!Keywords: inclusive education, queer educators, religious diversity in schools, pluralism in classrooms, decolonizing education, Christian dominance in schools, LGBTQ teachers, holiday inclusionThis 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 practicesWhy separating imagined harm from actual harm matters for LGBTQ+ policy decisionsWays administrators can better protect and empower queer educatorsHow music and theatre can model gender expansiveness and disrupt harmful binariesWhy “being bold” and visible creates space for the next generation of queer educatorsAbout 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: 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 💌 Subscribe and leave a review to support queer educator storytelling 🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org 📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueer🛍 Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!Resources & LinksBook: Honoring Trans and Gender Expansive Students in Music Education by Joshua Palkki & Matthew GarrettBook: Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler (2024)Article: Jones, Hard and Soft Policies in Music EducationDr. Caithaml’s Research: University of Bridgeport Faculty Page Keywordsqueer music education, inclusive classrooms, LGBTQ teachers, gender-affirming schools, performing arts equity, nonbinary educators, educational policy reformThis 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Queer Educators Can Interrupt Bias & Model Brave Conversations | Ep. 183 (with Sean McGill)

This episode is for teachers, school leaders, and DEI facilitators who want to create more inclusive classrooms while navigating fear, burnout, and systemic bias. Bryan (they/them) talks with Sean McGill (he/him) — a Chicago-based educator, anti-bias facilitator, and doctoral researcher — about what it means to teach, train, and show up authentically as a queer man across classrooms, police academies, and digital spaces.Listeners will learn how to:Interrupt bias in real time — even when you don’t know exactly what to sayModel queer authenticity safely in K–12 and adult learning environmentsBuild plans for bias response before harm happensTeach digital media literacy to help students recognize online hate and misinformationBalance vulnerability, safety, and advocacy in conservative or high-stakes contextsSean also shares insights from his upcoming dissertation on inclusive education and how his fourth-grade classroom became a model for age-appropriate queer visibility.Key TakeawaysSilence is complicity. When bias shows up, saying something matters more than saying it perfectly.Representation saves energy. Being visibly queer in education helps students imagine new possibilities for themselves.Digital literacy is bias literacy. Our media habits shape our worldviews and fuel polarization.Bias management > bias elimination. Awareness and response are the skills we must actually teach.Bravery is a muscle. The more we lean into discomfort, the stronger our justice practice becomes.About Our GuestSean McGill (he/him) is a Chicago-based educator, facilitator, and doctoral candidate in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy at National Louis University. A former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Sean has spent over a decade leading anti-bias and digital literacy workshops for students, educators, and law enforcement nationwide. His work centers inclusive education, identity visibility, and the power of conversation to interrupt systemic harm.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!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.Resources & LinksMuseum of Tolerance – Combat Hate ProgramThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024)National Louis University – Ed.D. in Curriculum, Advocacy, and PolicyTeaching While Queer Keywordsqueer educators, bias interruption, inclusive education, digital media literacy, LGBTQ teachers, anti-bias training, queer representation in schools, managing implicit biasThe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.