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To better serve all students, it is critical that schools begin to normalize non-heterosexual sexual identities and preferences, as well as affirming transgender students as well. By not doing this, schools are advancing a heterosexist culture.

Introducing more history of the LGBTQA+ community as well as reading from more authors within this community would help educate all students on the challenges that this community has endured, as well as normalize this community as one that has a place in our history books and class discussions.

Again, having more knowledge about more people groups and preferences is one of the ways that schools can support minority communities. No one is hurt by having more information, but many are currently hurt by being left out of discussions and history.

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Luckily there are many schools that have growing resources for LGBTQ+ students to utilize within their public schools and colleges.

Many high schools are becoming more supportive of Gay Straight Alliance ( often called GSA) and Trans-Supportive clubs within their schools. These clubs often include an administrator within the school staff, who can be a safe and supportive adult for many students to go to.

The Univeristy of Nebraska - Lincoln supports a LGBTQA+ Center that provides a support network, gender-affirming clothing, and events for students within this community to attend. Additionally, the LGBTQA+ center provides workshops and resources on gender identity and sexual health. (UNL, n.d.)

These organizations not only support the students within these communities by adding a critical support network, but they also help educate all students on campus about the LGBTQA+ community, and the importance of having representation and support of sexual and gender minority groups in schools and on campus.

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Aranmolate, R., Bogan, D. R., Hoard, T., & Mawson, A. R. (2017). Suicide risk factors among LGBTQ youth. JSM Schizophrenia, 2(2), 1011.

Meyer, E. J. (2009). Creating schools that value sexual diversity. Diversity and multiculturalism: A reader, 173-192.

Public Broadcasting Service. (2019, November 26). Growing up trans. PBS. Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/growing-up-trans/

United States v. Windsor. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2012/12-307

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Support for Sexual Diversity in P-20 Education 

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Support for Sexual Diversity in P-20 Education 

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Although schools try and be as sexually neutral as possible, there is generally much more support for heterosexual preferences. This can be seen in the literature that is read, the history that is covered in the classroom, and the heterosexual-affirming traditions that schools have. Schools try and avoid educational content that includes homosexual and pansexual because these topics are still seen as inflammatory (Meyer, 2009).

Most of this avoidance, and veiled heterosexism, is driven by fear of reprimands from parents within the district. Any mention of Gay/Lesbian history, or reading from literature written by sexually diverse authors, is seen as a threat to many families' personal and religious beliefs. Because of this, schools avoid covering these topics in the classroom primarily to avoid conflict with parents. This continues to drive the lack of knowledge that many students have on the history of sexual discrimination in the United States and thus continues to drive ignorance on this population as a whole.

Many Students, such as myself, do not encounter instructors who cover Homo, Bi, and Pan-sexual topics until they reach college - which is a privilege in itself. Additionally, college campuses provide a place for multiple sexual identities to interact with each other. College is an environment where multiple ideas and identities can be discussed without the same backlash that is faced in the K-12 public education system. College is the first place that many heterosexual students learn that they have sexuality in general - that heterosexual is not neutral, or non-sexual, but a sexuality in itself.

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Because of the challenges faced by this community - discrimination, gaslighting, and violence, there are significant risks to this community.

LBGTQ+ youth are 4-6 times more likely to attempt suicide (Aranmolate, 2017) because of the bullying and discrimination they face, and are increasingly more likely to struggle with depression and anxiety.

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Some common perceptions of those in the LBGTQA+ and non-heterosexual folks often include questioning the source of their sexual feelings. Often times this means regarding their sexual preferences as a choice, thinking that they are seeking attention, or believing that they are just "going through a phase".

This is shown pretty specifically in 'Growing Up Trans' by Frontline, as the kids recount their journeys of being bullied and being told that it was 'just a phase that they are going through. The medical professionals in the documentary point out that gender dysmorphia may subside in some children, but for others, it may continue to intensify as they grow older.

These specific perceptions are hurtful, invalidating, and often gaslighting to those within these communities. It takes something that they are feeling, and can't help but feel, and immediately invalidates their sexuality.

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Sexuality in the Education System Today 

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Sexuality in the Education System Today 

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Today I believe that we are all on a spectrum of sexual preferences, and there is absolutely no right or wrong way to express sexuality, gender identity, or sexual preferences. Each individual has a right to be heard and has the right to express themselves.

I consider myself lucky to live in an inclusive community, have a diverse group of friends, and feel confident in my own sexual identity.

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When I arrived at the University of Nebraska I felt like I had the space and the freedom to form new opinions and was fortunate to have more diversity in my friendships.

I began listening to more podcasts that discussed the news from various perspectives, and began to develop friendships with individuals in the LBGTQA+ community. Hearing the perspective of my friends who grew up within that community in Nebraska (which is generally more conservative) opened my eyes to the discrimination that many of them faced as they began to take action on their sexual preferences or speak their mind about what they feel.

My time in college was pivotal in shaping my opinion today, it exposed me to so many new perspectives and provided space for me to think logically about the rights we each deserve as unique sexual beings. This was also a time when I reflected on my past beliefs and rejecting the heterosexist opinions that I used to have.

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United States v. Winsor affirmed the right for same-sex marriage in the United States. The majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy stated "The Court held that the purpose and effect of DOMA is to impose a "disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma" on same-sex couples in violation of the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection." (Oyez, ND)

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Between sophomore and senior year of high school my perspective on different sexual preferences began to change quite a bit. I began to question why I had been raised to only think that one type of marriage was acceptable, and why Gay individuals were still not allowed to get married in many states, including Minnesota.

My perspective began to change through conversations with friends, though I still did not have any sexually diverse friendships in my life.

One of the biggest inflection points was watching the marriage equality movement unfold in 2013 with the supreme court case United States v.s. Windsor, and feeling like marriage equality should exist.

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I was raised in a conservative, evangelical Christian household in the suburbs of Minneapolis. I was taught that marriage should only be between men and women, and that was the belief I accepted.

My only exposure to sexual diversity was my Aunt, who identifies as gay, and whose partner was often at family events. Because of my Aunt, I had the belief that one can disagree with the sexual preference but still love that person. This was how I felt about differing sexual behaviors until the middle of high school, and how heterosexism manifested itself in my upbringing.

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These segments will map my changing perspective on this topic, as well as when & where these changes took place.

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Sexual Diversity refers to the different sexual preferences, behaviors, and characteristics that exist. It is the plurality of these different behaviors and characteristics without needing to identify each behavior specifically (Meyer, 2009)

Sexual diversity within a situation is the presence of a multitude of sexual preferences and behaviors within a represented group of individuals.

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Heterosexism is the discrimination against gay & bisexual individuals, or any other sexual preferences other than heterosexual.

Essentially, it is the belief that there is only one type of 'correct' sexual behavior, and that is heterosexism.