Trigger warning: Transphobia, homophobia.
Queerness and storytelling have a long and deeply intertwined history, from ancient Greek poet Sappho’s lesbian love verses dating all the way back to the 5th and 6th Century, to prolific drag queens, trans women, and vogue dancers like Venus Xtravaganza and Pepper Labeija sharing the fabulous but turbulent chronicles of New York’s ballroom scene in Jennie Livingston’s acclaimed 1990 documentary, Paris is Burning.
Beyond common tokenistic depictions, queer storytelling has evolved considerably in recent years, enriching the landscape of LGBTQIA+ representation with shows like Netflix hits Heartstopper and Sex Education, raunchy teen drama Élite, and offbeat lesbian comedy Bottoms. Meanwhile, with TV, film, and streaming services putting efforts in on inclusion and diversity in their casting and screenwriting choices, and LGBTQIA+ music artists selling out arenas – plus a multitude of queer Oscar-winning actors and directors – it’s undeniable that the representation of queer experiences has increased dramatically in the last decade.
The empowering representations of queerness that young LGBTQIA+ individuals are actually benefiting from in entertainment media sharply contrasts with the still-prevalent and misguided fear of queer people as ‘perverse’, the scapegoatism of non-binary and trans people, and the politicised – although unfounded – notion that they are a potential danger or negative influence on kids. In the education system, the LGBTQIA+ community’s long-standing history of exclusion and prejudice still weighs on the choice of topics in curricula, affecting young, queer children daily.
Devastating political action has already severely limited the expression of LGBTQIA+ teachers and students in US schools, including the now-infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans Bill’. In fact, there have been more anti-LGBTQIA+ bills introduced in state houses this year than in each of the previous five years – a gut-wrenching step backwards for queer and transgender youths. Among the legislation are laws that would censor curriculums, prohibit schools from requiring gender or sexual diversity counselling or training for students and staff, prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at state colleges and universities, and multiple bans on drag performances.
“I’m privileged in my experience as a trans and queer educator. I am white, transmasculine, and have only worked professionally in states where trans adults are protected,” explains American preschool teacher Deniz Çakır, who uses their personal experiences to train other educators on how to better support queer and trans youth. “Regardless, I’ve still been asked while at work about my genitalia. I’ve been asked by administrators to explain to parents my gender assigned at birth so [that] I would be allowed to change the diapers of children assigned female at birth,” they add.
Increasingly influenced by American policies and political climate, British politics is equally steeped in anti-drag and transphobic sentiment and discriminatory government measures. Considering PM Rishi Sunak’s recent remarks outwardly attacking and denying the actuality of transgender individuals, the Conservatives are without a doubt igniting a culture war and scapegoating to drive attention away from their disastrous political, economic, and moral incompetence.
Denying the existence of trans people is the same as denying the existence of the sun.
Aida H Dee
Together, fear-mongering techniques showcase the party’s habitual miseducation and ignorance, targeting a minority that makes up 0.2% of the country’s population, and who just want to exist in peace. “You can’t deny the existence of gender fluidity and the fact that gender in itself is completely separate from sex. This is not some sort of theory that hasn’t been thought through, it is generally just the existence of people,” points out Aida H Dee, the award-winning children’s author and founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK. The series of children’s events was first started in 2015 by American author and activist Michelle Tea to promote reading and diversity. “Denying the existence of trans people is the same as denying the existence of the sun.”
Elsewhere, the Tories have introduced new guidance that will see teachers forced to ‘out’ trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students to their parents, and ban trans children from using changing or shower facilities that align with their gender identity. This comes at a time of extreme urgency for support and safety for LGBTQIA+ children, as a joint survey from GAY TIMES and Channel 4 News found that queer people who experienced discrimination in the last year were subjected to it in an educational setting or at home more than anywhere else.
However, along with the rise of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation, a new generation of parents of queer or trans youth are deepening their understanding and support of their children’s experiences at school and elsewhere. According to Wendy Napoles, whose child Desmond is a 16-year-old LGBTQIA+ advocate, author, and genderfluid model, implementing effective queer education begins with a commitment to learning and empathy.
“Desmond’s journey of self-discovery and their subsequent advocacy work profoundly deepened my understanding,” Napoles tells BRICKS. After Desmond came out, Wendy and her family began to provide them with resources, connected with LGBTQIA+ organisations, attended events, and encouraged her child to raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ issues among their peers and the wider community online. “It became clear that my previous knowledge, while heartfelt, was limited,” she adds. “Desmond’s coming out was a pivotal moment that prompted me to reevaluate my beliefs and assumptions about LGBTQIA+ issues. I realised that, despite my familiarity with one individual’s experience, there was a vast and rich tapestry of LGBTQIA+ identities and stories that I had yet to fully comprehend.”
In fact, in 2020, Desmond – who felt inspired to teach others who may not be receiving LGBTQIA+ education – launched their own picture book Be Amazing: A History of Pride. Since then, they’ve received several emotional messages sharing how readers’ lives have been positively impacted by Desmond’s activism. “One powerful example comes from educators who have connected with Desmond’s advocacy work. These teachers have shared how Desmond’s activism has transformed their approach to education, inspiring them to better understand and implement diversity and inclusion into their classrooms,” continues Napoles.
Meanwhile, parents of queer kids have reached out to her and her family seeking guidance and support on how to better parent their children. “It’s deeply gratifying to know that our experiences and insights can help other parents navigate the challenges of supporting and affirming their LGBTQIA+ children,” she says. “Knowledge is a powerful tool for dispelling myths and fostering empathy.” Napoles urges fellow parents to educate themselves and listen to the experiences of older gay, trans and gender-nonconforming people to better understand what their kids are going through.
“I want to emphasise that you’re not alone in facing this struggle, and many parents, including myself, have navigated similar waters,” she reassures. “Through educating myself about LGBTQIA+ issues, reaching out for support from friends and LGBTQIA+ organisations, and evolving my own set of beliefs, I was able to quickly move beyond initial reservations and fears. I came to understand that my child’s identity was not a reflection of my parenting but rather a beautiful expression of who they truly are.”
I came to understand that my child’s identity was not a reflection of my parenting but rather a beautiful expression of who they truly are.
Wendy Napoles
It’s clear that the need for LGBTQIA+ discourse and storytelling within the education system, and the creation of safe spaces where young generations can learn about identity and queer struggles, is more pressing than ever.
Nevertheless, Çakır explains: “As someone who works closely with other educators, something I hear often is ‘What if children aren’t ready to learn about queer issues?’” Many schools, teachers and parents do, in fact, turn their noses up when it comes to incorporating queer history and experiences in curricula, alluding to the adjacency of these topics to sexuality and claiming that they’re ‘inappropriate’ for children or ‘too political’.
Despite bringing these issues to light on a rudimentary level, the fervent politicisation of queer and trans civil liberties actively goes against what they actually are – human rights. “I don’t think there’s a single moment at which we could talk about LGBTQIA+ people where it should be political,” points out Aida H Dee. “Politics is about debate, there is nothing up for debate with those issues. However, do I think there should be early-age education set in stone to say that we are a very diverse series of humans? Yes, I do.”
Children aren’t born with a preconceived notion that heterosexuality is the only acceptable way of life, nevertheless, the current state of society explicitly and implicitly reinforces sexual and gender expectations that are incongruent with young children’s emerging LGBTQIA+ identities. “I never had it embedded into me as a young kid that boys like girls and girls like boys, because by the time I had found myself fancying Peter Pan, I was still so young, and I was fancying a fictional boy,” continues Aida H Dee, who, this time last year, was travelling around the country leading their summer tour reading queer-focused stories to kids in libraries.
Despite experiencing harassment from protesters including multiple death threats, Aida H Dee keeps utilising storytelling to raise awareness and promote empathy and LGBTQIA+ representation for younger generations – something the UK school system is failing to do. “Gay people, they always remember the moment they realised that being gay was wrong,” they add. “That type of dissonance between straight people and queer people, the kind of thought processes that straight people don’t realise are what have gone through our lives and our heads. That can be portrayed through storytelling.”
Creating a safe space to learn about identity and queer experiences – where both LGBTQIA+ and straight kids can ask questions and receive advice and guidance – is of vital importance. “Supporting LGBTQIA+-inclusive curricula in schools, advocating for anti-discrimination policies, and actively countering bias and stereotypes in daily life are crucial steps,” explains Napoles.
For far too long our stories have been stolen, capitalised off of, or simply erased. No one knows how better to support us than ourselves and our most marginalised community members.
Deniz Çakır
Further research by Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBTQIA+ political lobbying organisation, has found that gay and trans youth who attend schools with inclusive curricula – such as including discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in health education, reading stories by queer authors in English classes, and teaching about LGBTQIA+ movements in history – feel safer and do better in school. Not only does storytelling about queer experiences help gay and trans kids to feel like their identity and preferences are valid and authentic, it also benefits all children by promoting openness, critical thinking, and a great deal of empathy.
The positive and empathetic response, from both straight and queer youth to queer history, progressive sex education, and storytelling’s inclusion in school conversations is evident, as LGBTQIA+ educators have gladly observed. “Most of my experiences in classrooms and with my students have been positive,” shares Çakır. “Some of these moments seem mundane and some feel larger, such as students coming out to me as trans or queer, or correcting their parents when they misgender me. I can’t help but smile when former students explain to teachers who haven’t worked with me that my pronouns are ‘they/them’ and what that means.”
A few years back, a group of 11 and 12-year-olds approached Aida H Dee at a storytelling event asking for advice on how to come out to their families. “What I wanted to say was, ‘Come out, just do it.’ However, you can’t do that. You have to tell them they should do what makes them feel the safest and when they feel comfortable to do so, then that’s when they should do it,” they add. Two children came out to their parents that same night and returned to a reading after the pandemic, where they shared how welcoming their families had been and that they were now in a relationship. “I felt that was just a small little thing, being there for them to be able to ask the question, and receiving a due diligence response,” shares Aida H Dee.
Meanwhile, Çakır explains that it’s critical for this type of advice to come directly from the LGBTQIA+ community itself. “Let queer and trans people tell our own stories,” they point out. Authenticity is vital when it comes to representation, inspiring sensitivity and respect for everyone’s experiences with identity and sexuality. “For far too long our stories have been stolen, capitalised off of, or simply erased. No one knows how better to support us than ourselves and our most marginalised community members.”
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