Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out

I obviously pick up on it all the time cos it’s very relevant to me…For example…in assemblies the
Head teacher was talking about like when you are older and…you grow up and you get married
and boys you are gonna have to look after your wives and because your wives will do this, your
wives will do that. And…I’m stood in assembly like, it kind of it does get me angry because I’m
stood their thinking, it’s not, well it’s not really the heads fault, obviously he doesn’t have a full
awareness of it, but that does frustrate me because it’s not that much more difficult to say your
partner…
(Sandra, Transcript 4: 9-10)
However, I find it interesting that Sandra says ‘it’s not really the Head’s fault; obviously
he doesn’t have a full awareness of it’. This may be true, but there is no reason why this
lack of awareness should not be challenged and Sandra, as a gay teacher, could be the
catalyst for such a challenge.
As well as recognising problems for LGBT pupils, for teachers the issues are also about
LGBT staff and a major cause of tension seems to be about disclosure of LGBT identity
at work (see Sanders and Burke, 1994; Evans, 2002; McCarthy, 2003). Sue feels it is
absolutely crucial for LGBT teachers to be out at work. Many people, she says, contest
that sexuality is a private business, she does not agree. As David Watkins 28 says ‘I am
gay, that’s who I am. You know everyday of my life you know, whatever I’m doing’ (Sue,
Transcript 4: 23). David and Sue feel that your sexuality and gender identity are central to
who you are and because of heteronormativity it is necessary for LGBT teachers to come
out in order for them to be recognised. This is a daunting prospect for many LGBT
teachers and many chose not to come out at work, including Sandra.
28 David Watkins is a gay teacher who successfully went to tribunal in 2007 after suffering homophobia in
his school (see Teachers TV, 2008).