The future really is queer: How Queer Educator Representation Impacts Students | Ep. 190 (with Julia Lathin)
JAN 22, 202650 MIN
The future really is queer: How Queer Educator Representation Impacts Students | Ep. 190 (with Julia Lathin)
JAN 22, 202650 MIN
Description
In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) talks with Julia Lathin (she/her), a lesbian art teacher in Los Angeles, about the evolution of her teaching—from closeted survival in a Michigan Catholic school with a morality clause, to building affirming, creative classrooms for queer youth in California.Listeners will learn:What it meant to teach under a “morality clause” while hiding key parts of her identityHow one small phrase—“pick a better word”—became a lifelong teaching mantraPractical ways to create safe, affirming art classroomsWhat happens when admin support is missing—and when you finally find itWhy queer joy and authenticity are both resistance and renewalIf this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more educators find Teaching While Queer. Keywords: boundaries, visibility, faith conflict, policy climate, curriculum censorship, student support, admin conflict, community care, queer joy, burnout, arts classrooms, professional risk, K–12, high school, middle school, arts educator, public school, Catholic/private school, Queer Educators, arts educators, faith, values, and identity, healing, burnout, and sustainability, closeted, questioning at school. Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in education, educator burnout, book bans, workplace discrimination, tokenism, doxing, and advocacy—while sharing practical strategies for building inclusive classrooms, affirming school cultures, and safer learning environments. Episodes center gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, asexual, aromantic, agender, and Two-Spirit educators, with conversations on gender identity in schools, anti-bullying practices, mental health, and community care. This podcast supports educators who feel isolated and offers solidarity, tools, and hope for LGBTQ+ teachers working across K–12 and higher education.Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in education, educator burnout, book bans, workplace discrimination, tokenism, doxing, and advocacy—while sharing practical strategies for building inclusive classrooms, affirming school cultures, and safer learning environments. Episodes center gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, asexual, aromantic, agender, and Two-Spirit educators, with conversations on gender identity in schools, anti-bullying practices, mental health, and community care. This podcast supports eTeaching While Queer is a podcast centering LGBTQ+ educators and the real-world realities of teaching while queer. We explore queer representation in education, including burnout, tokenism, doxing, visibility, boundaries, and advocacy for inclusive classrooms, safe schools, and anti-bullying practices. This podcast supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, agender, and two-spirit teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to reduce isolation, protect educators, and build community. Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me. Follow Teaching While Queer on Instagram, and TikTok. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Keywords: Teaching While Queer, queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive education, gender identity in schools, safe classrooms, anti-bullying strategies, educator burnout, LGBTQ advocacy, queer visibility in education