Advancing Research on LGBT/SOGIE Issues in International and Comparative Education

• In Event: Round-Table Session 1

Group Submission Type: Round-table Session

Proposal

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the first panel on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth at the 1998 CIES Conference in New York City. The first panel, which included presentations from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academics working in four Western countries: Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, and United States, sought to advance knowledge by examining the similarities and differences regarding the experiences of LGBT students and by situating these experiences in larger cultural and political context.

Similar panels were organized in 2010 and 2012, and every year since 2013. Over the years, panel participants expanded our understanding of LGBT and sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) issues in at least two ways. First, participants reported on research from middle- and low-income countries (e.g., India, Kenya). Second, participants examined not only the experience of LGBT students, but also explored the work of international organizations and NGOs. Taken together, these developments clearly signal the evolution of the sub-field.

In the past decade, we have seen increasing international attention to LGBT and SOGIE issues in education. However, there continues to be a paucity of research on LGBT students globally, particularly in developing countries. In 2011, UNESCO recently completed the first-ever international consultation on homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and released two related publications: "Review of Homophobic Bullying in Educational Institutions" and "Education Sector Responses to Homophobic Bullying". Findings from UNESCO's international consultation suggest that homophobic and transphobic bullying is prevalent in many educational systems worldwide.

The proposed roundtable will bring together scholars and practitioners interested in advancing LGBT/SOGIE issues in international and comparative education. We envision this session to allow for discussion and networking. Rather than including 3-4 individual papers, each participant will be invited to share perspectives on the topic. After brief statements by attendees we will engage in group discussion around the following questions:

1. What are the challenges and opportunities for scholarship on this issue?

2. How could we better situate research on LGBT/SOGIE issues in the field and in mainstream journals?

3. How can we better organize as a special interest group?

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Chairs

• Joseph Kosciw, GLSEN

• Naomi A Moland, New York University

• Oren Pizmony-Levy, Teachers College, Columbia University