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For many people nowadays, the idea of being LGBTQ+ is virtually passe. It’s no longer shocking or foreign, and that’s a good thing. In fact, LGBTQ+ characters and storylines are more than ever before depicted in mass media. To this effect, what I want others to know is that tolerance and acceptance are different than understanding. I am very grateful to have colleagues, friends, and family who love and welcome me. However, although you might think you understand me, my context, and what my experiences are like, the sad reality is that you don’t. Also, although it’s true that the world has largely become more tolerant, how would you feel simply being tolerated? We mustn’t forget the notion that we continue to livewwww in a straight world made by straight people for other straight people. So much of my daily experience is marred by microaggressions and reminders of how different and/or alone I am.

# data[].attributes.subject
For many people nowadays, the idea of being LGBTQ+ is virtually passe. It’s no longer shocking or foreign, and that’s a good thing. In fact, LGBTQ+ characters and storylines are more than ever before depicted in mass media. To this effect, what I want others to know is that tolerance and acceptance are different than understanding. I am very grateful to have colleagues, friends, and family who love and welcome me. However, although you might think you understand me, my context, and what my experiences are like, the sad reality is that you don’t. Also, although it’s true that the world has largely become more tolerant, how would you feel simply being tolerated? We mustn’t forget the notion that we continue to livewwww in a straight world made by straight people for other straight people. So much of my daily experience is marred by microaggressions and reminders of how different and/or alone I am.

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teachers have a lot of power over students 

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teachers have a lot of power over students 

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examine it, figure out when/where it causes imbalance and affects our teaching & interactions. why are our policies the way they are? why are some teachers not honoring IEPs? why are we inflexible with certain practices?

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The people who are most impacted and most knowledgeable about marginalization issues are BURNED OUT.

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We need training and a cultural shift to normalize having hard conversations. For those of us that are familiar with issues of marginalization, what we need are those with more privilege to spend time thinking about it and talking about it

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We need training and a cultural shift to normalize having hard conversations. For those of us that are familiar with issues of marginalization, what we need are those with more privilege to spend time thinking about it and talking about it

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Professional development to learn how each of our subject area's has contributed to systems of oppression

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Professional development to learn how each of our subject area's has contributed to systems of oppression

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This idea came up when a biology teacher in our group came to the realization that the emergence of evolutionary biology was a huge driving force in creating racism in our world today.

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Some marginalization doesn't happen because of any of the identity factors on the list, but because of the classes we teach and the perception of those classes/departments. Communication with our colleagues is soooo important and passing messages through kids gets all mangled and becomes part of the problem

# data[].attributes.subject
Some marginalization doesn't happen because of any of the identity factors on the list, but because of the classes we teach and the perception of those classes/departments. Communication with our colleagues is soooo important and passing messages through kids gets all mangled and becomes part of the problem

# data[].attributes.body
There are students who are afraid to share their beliefs, for fear that they will be labeled and judged as intolerant or unintellectual or narrow.   For example, we have a large number hispanics who are immigrating and the majority identify themselves as Christian/ Catholic/Evangelical etc.

Many self-identified Christians or Muslims,  Hindus or Buddhists have been marginalized for their beliefs and seen their views attacked or discarded in the culture, media, and even in the classroom.

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In sharing an experience where someone insisted I was inherently oppressed, it seemed like the people that were in my identity group also felt that it was demeaning when someone assumed we needed a less-marginalized group to rescue us. Allies are great, but it can be dehumanizing to assume someone is not where you think they should be because you think they've been victimized. It brings into focus that you need to respect people experiences, even if they don't align with your perceived oppression.

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We have made progress as a staff, but we still have a lot more work to do. 

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We have made progress as a staff, but we still have a lot more work to do. 

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The challenges we are facing are complex. From staff recruitment to lack of diversity in administration. We also have people who have experiences and knowledge on equity issues and having hard conversations, how are we leveraging and compensating their expertise?

# data[].attributes.subject
The challenges we are facing are complex. From staff recruitment to lack of diversity in administration. We also have people who have experiences and knowledge on equity issues and having hard conversations, how are we leveraging and compensating their expertise?

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Based on our conversations, it's clear that even with all that we do and our terrific EL program, our EL students are marginalized and our school doesn't do enough to be inclusive both in regards to transitioning them to a new school/country, providing more academic opportunities and promoting athletic participation

# data[].attributes.subject
Based on our conversations, it's clear that even with all that we do and our terrific EL program, our EL students are marginalized and our school doesn't do enough to be inclusive both in regards to transitioning them to a new school/country, providing more academic opportunities and promoting athletic participation

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My ah-ha came early in this activity when I joined my "group" because, as it turns out, I have no group. In the two rooms designated for LGBTQ+, I was the sole member. It's not uncommon for LGBTQ+ people, like everyone else, to have other parts of their identity that they feel represents them more fully than does their sexuality and romantic preferences. Still, it was surprising and alienating to see that in a staff of over 100 teachers, not a single other person saw themself as a part of this group with me.