The Influence of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation on LGBTQ+ Teacher Candidates’ Job Searches

• In Event: Politics of Teacher Preparation, Employment, and Retention

Abstract

In 2024, the ACLU reported over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills, restricting LGBTQ+ students’ rights, that have been proposed in the US. While sources have documented the hostile environment these bills create for students, the impact of these initiatives on LGBTQ+ teacher candidates and their job selection is unknown. Drawing on interviews with 15 LGBTQ+ teacher candidates, this paper examines the impact of anti-LGBTQ legislation on where these candidates accept teaching positions. Evidence suggests that these bills influenced how applicants evaluated teaching positions. They could lead to important redistributions in teacher labor and exacerbate ideological homogenization. As the teacher shortage continues to worsen, it is especially important for states and districts to understand these forces to effectively recruit new teachers.

Author

• Danielle Sutherland, Towson University