Queer Voices from the Classroom

Book excerpt: This inaugural volume of the new book series, Research in Queer Studies is a collection of memoirs or short narrative essays in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex or queer PK-12 teachers and/or administrators (either “out” or “not out”) recount their personal experiences as a queer teachers. The authors of these stores write about significant experiences that describe how their sexual identity has shaped who they are today as teachers/administrators, by answering the following questions: • In light of your sexual identity, how did you become who you are today? • Why did you decide to become a teacher? What role did your sexual identity play in that decision? • What kinds of significant moments, including queer issues (e.g., bullying) regarding students and/or yourself, have you experience in your teaching? • In light of who you are as an individual, what do you hope to achieve and become as a queer teacher in the future?