The Importance of Teaching LGBTQ History
By: Kaitlyn Snook
Tags: LGBTQ, History, Activism

When Abigail Reed graduated from Estero High School last May, she wore a rainbow cord on her gown, along with many others. It was a small yet powerful symbol of her pride in the LGBTQ community and particularly her fellow LGBTQ students. She felt confident, excited and ready to start the next chapter of her life. It was a moment she’d long been waiting for, yet something was still missing.

When Reed opened her 2020 yearbook for the first time in May, she was disheartened to see that the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), a club she’d dedicated four years to, wasn’t included. It seemed as though the school was ignoring the existence of LGBTQ students, she said, and rather than sit back silently, she decided to take a stand. She and her peers wore the rainbow cords not only as a symbol of pride, but to show that they refused to be ignored.

Abigail Reed poses in her cap and gown, displaying her rainbow cord. Reed has advocated for LGBTQ representation throughout her time at Estero High School. Photo: Abigail Reed

This wouldn’t be the last time LGBTQ students felt overlooked by the education system, though. During a meeting on the night of October 6, the Lee County School Board failed to address a resolution that would officially recognize October as LGBTQ History Month in schools.

At a workshop meeting the previous night, board members spent over an hour discussing the issue only to announce the next day that it had been removed from the agenda.

Although Reed graduated in the spring, she’s still involved with the school district and continues to advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in Lee County schools. She said the board’s decision to pull the issue was careless. It seemed that the board members didn’t value the LGBTQ community and would continue to avoid the subject in the future.

As someone who struggled with her identity during middle and high school, Reed said having the school district recognize LGBTQ people would have made a world of difference.

“It normalizes LGBT identities,” she said. “Just mentioning that [LGBTQ people] exist, that’s so significant.”

Research has shown that LGBTQ youth are more susceptible to bullying and harassment, and are at a higher risk of suicide or having suicidal thoughts. In 2013, the Pew Research Center found that 39% of LGBTQ people had been rejected by a friend or family member. For students who may not have an accepting family or friend group, school can provide a safe and welcoming environment, but that isn’t always the case.

“I was being mocked by people,” said Rayleen Jose. “People were questioning my sexuality.”

Jose is a member of the Fort Myers High School graduating class of 2020. After coming out publicly her sophomore year, other students began making hateful comments towards her. Though she did feel accepted by a small group of people, she said her high school experience “had its highs and lows.”

Jose said she believes that everyone would benefit from learning LGBTQ history. Not only would gay students feel more accepted, but their straight peers and teachers would be better educated.

Learning LGBTQ history in school is a requirement in five out of 50 states: California, Colorado, New Jersey, Illinois and Oregon. California was the first state to take this historic step with the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act (the FAIR Education Act).

The FAIR Education Act, also known as the LGBT History Act, was introduced in 2010. The act calls for the inclusion of LGBTQ people in history and social studies lessons and protects LGBTQ students from discrimination. Since the act was passed in 2011, research from the California Safe Schools Coalition has shown that students in California, both gay and straight, feel safer and report less harassment.

Dr. Jeff McCullers attended Lee County schools his whole life and has worked within the school district for 35 years. In 1985, the beginning of his teaching career, there were very few openly gay students and teachers in the county. In the midst of the AIDS epidemic, acceptance for LGBTQ people was extremely low. Coming out publicly put people at risk of bullying, exclusion from organizations and being denied a job.

“I thought these were the bravest people I’d ever met,” said McCullers. “Just acknowledging your personhood put you at risk.”

As time went on, Lee County schools became a more accepting place for LGBTQ students, McCullers explained. Training programs became more inclusive, school principles began to acknowledge LGBTQ identities and GSA clubs became more common. A lot has changed since the 1980s, which is why he was shocked by the school board’s recent actions.

In many ways, McCullers said the Lee County School District has been a leader for this issue, with several policies in place aimed at protecting LGBTQ students. He didn’t expect the resolution to become so controversial and be met with such opposition.

“I would’ve thought it would be innocuous at this point,” he said. “I was disappointed.”

If the resolution had passed, McCullers said it probably wouldn’t lead to many changes. Resolutions are not so much a change in the curriculum, but a way to fill in the blanks that history classes often miss. Other resolutions in the Lee County School District include Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Although a resolution to acknowledge LGBTQ History Month isn’t exactly radical, it could have a huge impact on LGBTQ students.

“I would’ve felt so welcomed,” Reed said. “I would’ve felt like it was normal, what I was going through.”

Reed said she remembers how it felt to be a young student questioning her identity and wondering if anyone else felt the same. With no outward support from her teachers or other authority figures in school, it was up to her to find the people she could connect with and rely on.

During her freshman year at Estero High School, Reed joined the GSA. She wanted to make friends and meet other people like her, and the club became something like a support group. Meeting older LGBTQ students gave her hope and made her feel as though she wasn’t alone on her journey.

“It’s different when you see older LGBT people,” she said. “It’s inspiring.”

Although Reed was able to find a sense of community within the GSA, not every LGBTQ student can share this experience. At Fort Myers High School, Jose still only felt comfortable coming out to a select group of people. She had a close friend group with whom she felt safe, but the rejection from other students continued. She wasn’t comfortable coming out to teachers or other staff members and felt that her school could do a lot to make LGBTQ students feel accepted.

“It’s not just about representation,” Jose said. “It’s about understanding where we started. People think that because gay marriage is legal we have nothing else to fight for, but that’s not true.”

When the Lee County School Board discussed acknowledging October as LGBTQ History Month, multiple board members had objections. Cathleen O’Daniel Morgan, who represents District 7 in Lee County, pointed out that the board had only agreed to discuss issues regarding culture and race, and that the LGBTQ community did not fall under that category.

“We should not discuss issues that we as a board did not agree on,” said Morgan.

Other members, however, felt it was wrong not to address it.

“I think it’ll send a negative message,” said vice chairwoman Betsy Vaughn.

The board meeting on October 6 was open to the public, and many speakers commented on the LGBTQ History Month resolution, both in favor and against. After several people spoke on the issue, board member Mary Fischer announced that it had been removed from the agenda.

Those who opposed acknowledging LGBTQ history in school said it’s a topic that should be discussed at home. They see the resolution as part of the “LGBT agenda” and believe parents should decide what their children are being taught.

It’s unclear whether the Lee County School Board plans to discuss this issue in the future, but Reed and Jose are hopeful that this won’t be the end.

Historical figures like Harvey Milk‒ the first openly gay elected official in California‒ and Alan Turing‒ a gay mathematician who helped crack coded messages during World War II‒ along with historical events like the Stonewall Riots tend to be excluded from history lessons. Reed believes LGBTQ history is just as important as that of other groups. The community has a unique culture and history that deserves to be recognized, she said.

“There’s no harm in discussing it, even if you don’t approve of it,” she said. “Children should be exposed to all cultures, and the LGBT community really is a culture of its own.”