“I Wish There Were More People of Color”: Racial Exclusion in a Queer Student Alliance

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 9:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: K-12 Education at the Intersection of Queerness and Race (Table 5)

Abstract

This paper addresses the research question: What are the experiences of queer and trans high school students of color in a Queer Student Alliance (QSA) in Utah? Drawing from the framework of queer of color critique, we found that the lack of focus on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and racial diversity and cultural familial context in the QSA hindered students’ sense of affirmation and participation. By centering youth voices, we highlight the urgent need for affirming practices within QSAs. In addition to informing researchers, school leaders, and educators on how queer and trans students of color experience exclusion and inclusion in QSAs, our research provides recommendations grounded in youth voices to address the issue of racial marginalization in QSAs.

Authors

• Sonny Partola, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

• Leticia Alvarez Gutiérrez, University of Utah