Building Capacity: Preservice Teachers as LGBTQ Allies and Social Justice Advocates

• In Event: 14.027 - Gendered and LGBTQ Experiences: Critical Reflections on School-Based Equity

Abstract

Critical challenges facing teacher educators at faculties of education is how to prepare teacher candidates to see schools situated in larger social contexts and support their ongoing learning as social justice advocates. Anti-oppressive work, particularly that which aims to meet the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered, Two-Spirited, Queering and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth, remains a constant challenge. Based on their positioning, faculties of education can be ideal spaces to foster awareness, understanding, and support for LGBTQ youth at schools. In this paper we focus on pre-service teachers who participated in an integrated LGBTQ awareness raising and ally building program, as part of their Bachelor of Education courses, and who identified as LGBTQ allies and social justice advocates.

Authors

• Laura-Lee Kearns, Saint Francis Xavier University

• Jennifer Mitton Kukner, St. Francis Xavier University

• Joanne Tompkins, Saint Francis Xavier University