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Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Bryan Stanton
179 episodes
2 days ago

Unfiltered, radical conversations at the intersection of queerness and education.


Feeling isolated in your school, department, or campus? You’re not alone. Teaching While Queer brings together LGBTQ+ educators and activists to talk about identity, inclusion, burnout, book bans, drag in the classroom, and finding joy while fighting for justice.


Hosted by Bryan Stanton (they/them)—a former Teacher of the Year turned theatre pedagogy nerd—this podcast centers storytelling as a survival tool and offers support, strategy, and solidarity for queer educators everywhere.


New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.


🎧 Start with episode 139. "5 Ways Queer Educators Can Build Inclusive Classrooms Without Burning Out"


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Education
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All content for Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators. is the property of Bryan Stanton and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Unfiltered, radical conversations at the intersection of queerness and education.


Feeling isolated in your school, department, or campus? You’re not alone. Teaching While Queer brings together LGBTQ+ educators and activists to talk about identity, inclusion, burnout, book bans, drag in the classroom, and finding joy while fighting for justice.


Hosted by Bryan Stanton (they/them)—a former Teacher of the Year turned theatre pedagogy nerd—this podcast centers storytelling as a survival tool and offers support, strategy, and solidarity for queer educators everywhere.


New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.


🎧 Start with episode 139. "5 Ways Queer Educators Can Build Inclusive Classrooms Without Burning Out"


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
Education
Episodes (20/179)
Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Beyond Allyship — Language, Courage, and Co-Conspiracy | Ep. 181 (with Françoise Thenoux)

What does real allyship look like when the stakes are high? In this powerful episode, Bryan (they/them/elle) talks with Françoise Thenoux (she/ella) — also known as @TheWokeSpanishTeacher — about how educators can move from performative allyship to courageous co-conspiracy through inclusive, non-binary Spanish language and classroom practices.


🌈 You’ll hear:

  • How non-binary and gender-neutral Spanish is reshaping classrooms across the Americas
  • Why true allyship requires risk, courage, and community
  • Practical steps for educators to create linguistically and queer-affirming spaces
  • The story of one student who changed Françoise’s entire approach to teaching


This episode is for allies, language teachers, and anyone working to make schools more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students and educators.


👉 Subscribe, review, and visit teachingwhilequeer.org or follow @TeachingWhileQueer for more inspiring stories.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


Keywords: queer pedagogy, inclusive Spanish, LGBTQ+ educators, gender-affirming classrooms, allyship in education, non-binary language, linguistic justice

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
2 days ago
39 minutes 51 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Faith, Identity & Burnout – A Gay Educator’s Journey in Catholic Schools | Ep. 180 (with Bill Hulseman)

What does it mean to be a queer teacher in a faith-based school? In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with author and ritual designer Bill Hulseman (he/him) to explore his path from Catholic school teacher to educational leader to full-time ritualist and writer.


• Navigating authenticity and inclusion as a gay man in Catholic education

• How ritual, faith, and teaching intersect to shape culture and community

• Lessons on burnout, conscience, and leaving the classroom with integrity

• The story behind Bill’s new book Carry the Casket and Wanting to Say the Mass


This episode is for queer educators, faith-based teachers, and allies reflecting on identity, vocation, and resilience in education.


Find links and resources at teachingwhilequeer.org and follow @TeachingWhileQueer for updates.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


Keywords: queer education, LGBTQ+ educators, Catholic schools, inclusive teaching, authenticity in education, queer spirituality, teacher burnout


The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 week ago
53 minutes 25 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Stories Are Strategy – Reflections from the Queer Educators Conference | Ep. 179 (with Host Bryan Stanton)

In this special episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on the inaugural Teaching While Queer Educators Conference, held on October 11, 2025—a global gathering of queer educators, allies, and advocates transforming education through authenticity and collective care.


• “Belonging isn’t just entering the room—it’s redesigning it.”

• How storytelling became a tool for organizing, resistance, and liberation

• Lessons from sessions on union power, media strategy, and affirming visibility

• Why cultural shifts must come before policy shifts—and how to make both happen

• The joy, kinship, and courage that sustain queer educators everywhere


This episode is for queer teachers, allies, and anyone committed to creating inclusive, affirming, and liberatory classrooms.


Find links and upcoming conference archives at teachingwhilequeer.org and follow @TeachingWhileQueer for updates.


Keywords: queer education, LGBTQ+ educators, inclusive teaching, queer pedagogy, gender-affirming classrooms, liberatory education, educator conference

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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2 weeks ago
9 minutes 5 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Teaching Truth in Dangerous Times: Queer History, Resistance, and Radical Hope | Ep. 178 (with Rodney C. Wilson)

“I had to become a fully integrated person—same at home, same in class, same everywhere—or I couldn’t keep teaching.”


In this powerful conversation, Bryan sits down with Rodney Wilson, the Missouri educator who founded LGBTQ+ History Month and made history as the first openly gay K–12 Missouri teacher to come out to his students. Together, they unpack the intersections of queer identity, teaching, and resistance—from the origins of LGBTQ+ History Month to the modern-day fight against censorship and “Don’t Say Gay” laws.


Listeners will learn:


  • How queer teachers can teach truth without “obeying in advance” to fear-based policies
  • The untold story of how LGBTQ+ History Month began in 1994
  • Why visibility in the classroom still matters—for students, staff, and society


For queer educators, allies, and anyone who believes in teaching for liberation, this episode is both history and a call to action.


Tap play to remember where we’ve been—and how we keep moving forward.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
43 minutes 40 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
The Cost of Visibility Why LGBTQ+ Educators Are Under Fire | Ep. 177 (with Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.)

They called him a danger just for existing as a gay teacher—then they went after his students.


In this powerful replay, Kentucky Teacher of the Year Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. shares his story of being relentlessly targeted by groups like Moms for Liberty and the systemic failures that put queer teachers and students at risk. From book bans and “parental rights” laws to death threats and harassment of LGBTQ+ youth, Willie exposes the escalating hostility toward queer educators in public schools.


Listeners will hear:

  • How school districts often protect parents’ hate over students’ safety
  • Why visibility matters for LGBTQ+ teachers, even when it comes at a cost
  • The inspiring grassroots movement of queer youth building Rainbow Freedom Libraries in Kentucky


This episode is a raw, emotional reminder of what’s at stake in classrooms today—and why queer educators refuse to be erased.


👉 Tap play to hear Willie’s story of resilience, advocacy, and hope for LGBTQ+ students and teachers everywhere.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.



The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
58 minutes

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
The Extra Burden of Being a Queer Teacher Nobody Talks About | Ep. 176 (with Timothy Chavez)

Queer teachers face double scrutiny—and yet our visibility can be the lifeline students need.


In this conversation, Spanish teacher Timothy Chavez (@CommunicativeTeacher418) shares what it means to bring queerness into the classroom—not as a lesson plan, but as a lived truth. With over a decade in education, Timothy opens up about navigating scrutiny, reclaiming inclusive language in Spanish, and the quiet resistance of simply existing authentically as a queer teacher.


This episode is for LGBTQ+ educators, allies, and anyone fighting for representation in schools. You’ll hear:


  • The unseen emotional labor queer teachers carry that cishet colleagues often don’t face
  • How inclusive language in world languages reshapes classrooms for nonbinary and queer students
  • Why visibility—whether loud or subtle—matters more than ever for LGBTQ+ in education


Timothy’s story is both practical and deeply human, reminding us that being present and open can transform what students believe is possible for themselves.


👉 Tap play to hear how queer educators are reshaping classrooms with courage, resistance, and joy.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
35 minutes 44 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Six Ways Queer Teachers Can Protect Their Energy and Stay in the Classroom | Ep. 175 (with Host Bryan Stanton)

Self-care isn’t bubble baths — for queer teachers, it’s survival in a world trying to push us out of classrooms.


In this solo episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) lays out what authentic, practical self-care looks like for LGBTQ+ educators navigating burnout, political attacks, and the daily emotional labor of being visible in schools.


You’ll learn:

  • Six concrete self-care strategies queer teachers can use in under five minutes
  • How to set boundaries and say no without guilt
  • Why self-care is not a luxury but an act of survival, sustainability, and resistance


If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or questioning how to keep going, this episode will remind you that you are not alone — and that caring for yourself is the most radical way to stay in the work.


Tap play to find the small, sustainable practices that will help you keep teaching as your authentic self.

Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
16 minutes 58 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Joy Is Resistance How Queer Teachers Are Building a Movement | Ep. 174 (with Host Bryan Stanton)

Celebration is advocacy—and when queer educators gather, we refuse to be erased. In this solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) shares everything you need to know about the upcoming Teaching While Queer Queer Educators Conference 2025, happening October 11th, National Coming Out Day.


This isn’t just another professional development event—it’s a day of community, courage, and celebration where queer teachers, allies, and advocates come together to educate, advocate, and sustain joy.


In this episode you’ll hear:


  • Why National Coming Out Day is the perfect moment for queer teachers to reclaim visibility and power
  • Highlights from keynotes and workshops—from allyship strategies to inclusive pedagogy to digital defense tools
  • How you can attend, apply for scholarships, and gain CE credits while connecting with queer educators worldwide


If you’ve ever longed for solidarity, inspiration, and practical tools to bring back to your classroom or school, this conference was built for you.


👉 Tap play to learn how you can be part of the Teaching While Queer Queer Educators Conference 2025 and join a movement where joy itself is resistance.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
26 minutes 53 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as Queer Resistance | Ep. 173 (with Host Bryan Stanton)

Queer educators are not just teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—they’re living it, every time they step into the classroom.


This episode is for every teacher who’s ever asked, “How do I teach justice when my own visibility feels at risk?”


We dive into the power of teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) through a queer lens. This episode explores how LGBTQ+ teachers bring human rights to life in schools, bridging history, advocacy, and daily classroom realities.


Listeners will hear stories and strategies that connect queer visibility with broader struggles for justice, uncovering how human rights education can become a radical act of inclusion.


You’ll walk away with:


  • Practical ways to bring the UDHR into your classroom in ways that center LGBTQ+ voices.
  • Reflections on how Pride and human rights intersect in education.
  • Insight into why queer teachers make human rights teaching more urgent and more alive.


Tap play to learn how human rights education can become a form of queer resistance and collective liberation.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
2 months ago
12 minutes 10 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
What Schools Miss About LGBTQ+ History and Why It Matters | Ep. 172 (with Robert Keston)

“If we don’t tell queer history, students grow up with fake education—and fake history is the foundation of oppression.”


In this episode, Robert Keston, President & CEO of the Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library in Fort Lauderdale, shares how queer educators can resist erasure and fight for visibility in schools. From his activism during the AIDS crisis to leading one of the largest LGBTQ+ archives in the U.S., Robert brings urgent perspective on what’s at stake when history is silenced.


You’ll hear:


  • Why teaching LGBTQ+ history is essential for democracy, not just inclusion
  • How queer teachers can show up authentically in hostile political climates
  • What Florida’s book bans reveal about education and power


If you’ve ever wondered how to bring queer history into your classroom—or how to hold onto hope while teaching in hostile states—this episode is for you.


Tap play to reclaim queer visibility in education and remind students they are part of history.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


Register for the Teaching While Queer: Queer Educator Conference!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
2 months ago
46 minutes 49 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
171. How Humor Creates Safe Spaces for Queer Educators & Students in Unexpected Places

Sometimes the most impactful lessons happen far from a traditional classroom. In this conversation, comedian, writer, and educator Tim Murray shares what it’s like teaching improv and stand-up comedy inside rehab facilities — from working with queer teens navigating anxiety and identity to setting boundaries with adults.


We talk about what authenticity really means for LGBTQ+ teachers, why joy and comedy are critical tools for connection, and how showing up as yourself can create safe spaces even in unexpected environments. Tim also opens up about his whirlwind year — from touring and creating a queer TV series to making a surprise appearance at the Tony Awards.


In this episode, you’ll hear:


  • How to balance authenticity with personal safety in the classroom
  • Strategies for using comedy to foster trust and connection with students
  • Why queer visibility matters beyond traditional school walls


Tap play to explore how humor, representation, and courage can transform teaching for queer educators everywhere.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
2 months ago
36 minutes 43 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
170. Start the Year Queer: Real Back-to-School Strategies for LGBTQ+ Teachers

“You don’t have to be perfect to be inclusive—just keep trying, keep listening, and keep loving your students fiercely.”


Back-to-school season is here, and for queer teachers, the first weeks can feel like both an opportunity and a battleground. In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) shares proven strategies to create a classroom where every LGBTQ+ student—and every teacher—can show up as their full self.


Drawing on antiracist, culturally responsive, and queer-affirming pedagogy, Bryan covers:


  • How to set the tone for trust, safety, and visibility from day one
  • Practical, research-backed tips for names, pronouns, inclusive norms, and queering your curriculum—even when it’s not “required”
  • Concrete ways to avoid burnout while sustaining the work all year


Whether you’re a new queer educator or a seasoned pro, this episode will leave you inspired and armed with real tools for creating change. This podcast is for you if you believe every classroom should be a place for courage, care, and queer joy.


Tap play to get the confidence and clarity you need for your boldest school year yet.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
3 months ago
13 minutes 6 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
169. When the World Says "No" Queer Teachers Should Queer Everything!

Queerness isn’t just what we are—it’s how we teach, breathe, and survive, even when the world tries to shut us down.


In this solo recap, Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks Maya Gonzalez’s transformative approach to education, creativity, and queer resilience—rooted in four decades of lived experience as a queer femme artist, educator, and creator of the Gender Wheel. Whether you’re a queer teacher, LGBTQ+ ally, or navigating pushback in education, this episode is your roadmap to queering every corner of your classroom and life.


You’ll walk away with:


  • Deep insights into queering education beyond rainbows and Pride Month—making it a living, everyday practice
  • Practical, trauma-informed steps to create safe, healing spaces for queer students (and yourself)
  • Bold strategies for handling pushback and reclaiming your joy as an LGBTQ+ educato


If you’ve ever needed a reminder that your presence matters—or tools for queering your teaching even under fire—this episode is for you. This podcast is a resource, a lifeline, and a celebration for queer teachers, LGBTQ+ in education, and anyone who believes Pride doesn’t end in June.


Tap play to reclaim your classroom, your healing, and your power.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.


The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
3 months ago
19 minutes 12 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
168. Beyond Safe Spaces Reclaiming Queer Identity and Power in Education

“I’m a queer educator who teaches queerly about queer stuff—everything is queer-focused for me.”


How do you bring your whole queer self into teaching when schools still expect you to hide? In this episode, Maya Gonzalez—pioneering queer children’s book author and creator of the Gender Wheel—reveals what it means to be deeply, unapologetically queer as an educator. Drawing from decades of living and teaching in the LGBTQ+ community, Maya shares hard-won wisdom on somatic presence, surviving conservative pushback, and healing queer children through creative courage and authenticity.


If you’re a queer teacher or LGBTQ+ educator wondering how to survive, thrive, and heal in education—this is your episode.


  • Learn how to “queer the classroom” without compromise, from elementary to university settings
  • Discover practical strategies to protect your spirit, build bridges, and confront anti-LGBTQ+ hostility
  • Feel seen in stories about queer visibility, burnout, resilience, and building true queer community in education


This is more than survival—it’s about changing the story. Take the first step in reclaiming queer visibility and pride in schools.


Tap play to restore your strength.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me! Explore Maya's work and learn more about The Gender Wheel.


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.



The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
3 months ago
51 minutes 5 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
167. If Other Teachers Get to Do It, So Can I: One Queer Band Director’s Fight for Equal Treatment

“If other teachers get to do it, why can’t I?”


Band director Rachel Colby lives this question every day as a proudly out bisexual teacher in rural Virginia. In this episode, we dive deep into the joys and risks of LGBTQ+ visibility in schools, the daily dance between honesty and self-protection, and why setting boundaries with students is an act of love—not fear.


You’ll hear:

  • The real stories behind being the “first” out queer teacher for so many students, and what that responsibility feels like.
  • How Rachel uses humor, food swaps, and “malicious compliance” to resist double standards and create truly affirming spaces.
  • Actionable tips for queer teachers and allies on navigating bi-erasure, supporting trans students, and building resilient classroom community.


If you’re a queer educator, LGBTQ+ teacher, or ally seeking a roadmap to authenticity and resilience in education, this episode is for you.


Tap play to hear Rachel’s wisdom and join the fight for joy, justice, and visibility in every classroom.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3 months ago
16 minutes 23 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
166. Queer Band Directors, Bi Erasure, and the Battle for Visibility in Rural Schools

"If other teachers can show off their families, why can’t I have a photo of my wife on my desk?"


What does authentic queer visibility really look like in schools where “everyone is welcome” can spark controversy? In this candid conversation, bisexual band director Rachel Colby shares the real-life highs and lows of being out as an LGBTQ+ teacher in rural Southwestern Virginia. We dive into the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) resistance queer educators face—bi erasure, double standards about sharing our lives, and the emotional labor of creating truly inclusive classrooms for every student.


You’ll get:


  • Raw, real talk about walking the “narrow road” of being openly queer in conservative school districts
  • Emotional strategies for holding boundaries and building strong student relationships as an LGBTQ+ teacher
  • Practical, lived examples of how to push back with courage, community, and even a little petty, “malicious compliance” pride


If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re alone in the struggle—or how to survive and thrive as a queer educator—this episode is for you.


Tap play to claim your space, find your people, and keep teaching wild and queer.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3 months ago
30 minutes 56 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
165. Affirming LGBTQ+ Students Means More than Just Surviving Right Now

“If we’re surpassing the safety of children to satisfy community attitudes, then we’re failing—period.”


This episode of Teaching While Queer dives deep into the lived realities of queer teachers and LGBTQ+ allies fighting for truly inclusive schools in 2025. Drawing on Bryan’s conversation with Josh Qua, a queer educator and special education coordinator in New Orleans, we tackle the urgent need for radical empathy, queer visibility, and defending the power of choice—especially as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and book bans sweep the country.


In this episode, queer educators and allies will:


  • Learn five actionable strategies to normalize queer existence, defend student choice, and build affirming support networks in even the most conservative schools.
  • Feel seen and validated through honest stories about overcoming isolation, resisting erasure, and finding radical joy.
  • Get practical steps for auditing classroom representation, supporting queer colleagues, and keeping student safety front and center—no matter the political climate.


This podcast is for every LGBTQ+ teacher, ally, and anyone dreaming of schools where every student and educator is truly affirmed.


Take the first step in building radical, joyful, affirming schools—tap play and join the movement.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3 months ago
18 minutes 26 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
164. Empathy Is Not Optional for Pride and Queer Visibility in Our Schools

If you’re more uncomfortable with two dads at Pride than with hate signs outside a school, you’re missing the real danger for queer kids.


In this raw, urgent episode, two LGBTQ+ educators pull back the curtain on the real cost of “otherness” in America’s classrooms. We go deep on how queer teachers navigate the Bible Belt, what happens when mentioning LGBTQ+ even gets banned, and why true inclusion means more than a rainbow sticker on the door.


You’ll learn:


  • Why “neutral” schools aren’t safe for anyone, and how compulsory heteronormativity traps both students and teachers
  • How real empathy, not just policy, can transform classrooms for kids with multiple marginalized identities
  • Actionable ways queer educators can find real allies and build joy—even in hostile environments


If you’re a queer teacher, LGBTQ+ in education, or a true ally who wants more than surface-level “Pride Month” talk, this episode is your permission slip to demand better—for yourself and your students.


Tap play to unlearn, rebuild, and reclaim your space in schools.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
3 months ago
47 minutes 12 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
163. What Happens When Queer Educators Bring Radical Empathy Into Graduate Classrooms


“Our presence in the classroom is revolutionary, even if all you do is show up with your nails painted.”


In this powerful episode, we dive deep with Lisa Salvador (she/they) and Dr. Fran McLean (she/they), two out queer educators whose work in graduate mental health programs is shaking up what it means to be visible, caring, and unapologetically themselves in higher ed.


Join us as we unpack why queer teachers and LGBTQ+ educators bring unmatched empathy, advocate for inclusive curricula, and model radical acceptance for every student. You’ll hear about:


  • How queerness shapes the way teachers build trust, community, and resilience in the classroom
  • Why being “out” is a political act—and the subtle, everyday revolutions that matter most
  • Real-world strategies for pushing back on heteronormativity, fostering empathy, and bringing queer joy into schools


Whether you’re an LGBTQ+ teacher, an ally, or a queer youth looking for hope, this conversation centers voices often left out of education and mental health. Tap play to discover why your story—and your visibility—matter.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
4 months ago
14 minutes 15 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
162. Why Queer Educators Make the Best Allies in the Classroom

“I didn’t always get the lesbian nod—but I’ve always been a queer teacher.”


In this heartfelt Pride Month conversation, Brian sits down with Fran McClain and Lisa Salvadore—partners in life and the classroom—to explore how their queerness shapes their work in higher education, mental health, and sex education.


This episode is for every LGBTQ+ teacher who's ever felt unseen, every student who needs a role model, and every ally trying to do better.


  • Hear how co-teaching a human sexuality class became a ten-year act of queer visibility
  • Learn how being visibly queer challenges assumptions and creates safe spaces for students
  • Discover the power of empathy as a radical, queer teaching tool


Tap play to hear how being unapologetically out in education is not just brave—it’s necessary.


Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me!


This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

The podcast explores the challenges and successes of Queer representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...
4 months ago
49 minutes 56 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.

Unfiltered, radical conversations at the intersection of queerness and education.


Feeling isolated in your school, department, or campus? You’re not alone. Teaching While Queer brings together LGBTQ+ educators and activists to talk about identity, inclusion, burnout, book bans, drag in the classroom, and finding joy while fighting for justice.


Hosted by Bryan Stanton (they/them)—a former Teacher of the Year turned theatre pedagogy nerd—this podcast centers storytelling as a survival tool and offers support, strategy, and solidarity for queer educators everywhere.


New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.


🎧 Start with episode 139. "5 Ways Queer Educators Can Build Inclusive Classrooms Without Burning Out"


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.