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Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Bryan Stanton
184 episodes
5 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 (20/184)
Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
Educate, Advocate, Celebrate: What Queer Educators Built in 2025 | Ep. 186 (with Bryan Stanton)

This year, queer educators didn’t just survive — we built something that can outlast the moment. 🌈 In this reflective solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) revisits the major themes that shaped 2025 for LGBTQ+ teachers: quiet resistance, authentic storytelling, and the radical act of joy. From the Teaching While Queer Educators Conference to episodes that redefined advocacy, Bryan invites listeners to pause, reflect, and name the impact they’ve made — even when no one was watching.


This episode is for every LGBTQ+ educator, school counselor, or ally who needs a reminder that strategy and community—not perfection—are what sustain us.


You’ll learn:

  • How “quiet power” became a model for queer resistance in 2025
  • Why self-care isn’t enough — and what true institutional support looks like
  • The revolutionary lessons from the Teaching While Queer Educators Conference
  • How storytelling is strategy, not an afterthought
  • Why joy is a professional and political act


About Our Host:

Bryan Stanton (they/them) is the founder and host of Teaching While Queer, an educator, theatre artist, and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools. Their work centers on helping educators find sustainable, justice-rooted ways to show up fully—without erasing themselves in the process.


Call to Action:

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

💬 Share this episode with one educator who needs it

🖥️ Visit teachingwhilequeer.org

📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueer


Keywords: queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive classrooms, quiet resistance, teacher burnout, queer storytelling, educator community, queer joy in education


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...
5 days ago
17 minutes 30 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
When “Inclusion” Means Erasure: Decolonizing Holiday Practices in Schools | Ep. 185 (with Bryan Stanton)

This episode is for educators — especially queer teachers, principals, and school leaders — who care deeply about real inclusion and belonging. Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how well-intentioned “inclusive” classroom practices often end up reinforcing Christian dominance, sidelining Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular families. Together, we’ll examine how public schools perpetuate cultural erasure under the banner of “neutrality,” and what authentic pluralism can look like in action.


You’ll Learn:

  • How “inclusive” school traditions often reinforce Christian cultural norms
  • Why neutrality isn’t neutral — and how law, culture, and faith intersect in public schools
  • What exclusion looks like for Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular students
  • How queer educators can model pluralistic inclusion rooted in justice and empathy
  • Concrete strategies for creating classrooms that honor all identities and beliefs


Call to Action:

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

💬 Subscribe & leave a review to support queer educators

🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org

📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueer

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


Keywords: inclusive education, queer educators, religious diversity in schools, pluralism in classrooms, decolonizing education, Christian dominance in schools, LGBTQ teachers, holiday inclusion


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 weeks ago
20 minutes 17 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
How Music Educators Can Build Queer-Inclusive Classrooms | Ep. 184 (with Dr. Justin Caithaml)

 For music and performing arts educators striving to create affirming spaces for every student — this episode is for you. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Dr. Justin Caithaml) (they/them), Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Bridgeport, to explore how gender, sexuality, and policy intersect in the music classroom. Together, they unpack how queer educators can balance authenticity, safety, and advocacy — both for themselves and their students.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to design inclusive classroom “policies” — from pronouns to physical space to performance practices
  • Why separating imagined harm from actual harm matters for LGBTQ+ policy decisions
  • Ways administrators can better protect and empower queer educators
  • How music and theatre can model gender expansiveness and disrupt harmful binaries
  • Why “being bold” and visible creates space for the next generation of queer educators

About Our Guest:

🎵 Dr. Justin Caithaml (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Music & Music Education at the University of Bridgeport. A nonbinary and bisexual scholar, their research explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, discourse, and policy in music education. Their work advocates for affirming practices that allow both teachers and students to thrive authentically within educational systems.


Listen & Connect:

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

💌 Subscribe and leave a review to support queer educator storytelling

🌐 Visit teachingwhilequeer.org

📱 Follow @TeachingWhileQueer

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


Resources & Links

  • Book: Honoring Trans and Gender Expansive Students in Music Education by Joshua Palkki & Matthew Garrett
  • Book: Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler (2024)
  • Article: Jones, Hard and Soft Policies in Music Education
  • Dr. Caithaml’s Research: University of Bridgeport Faculty Page


Keywords

queer music education, inclusive classrooms, LGBTQ teachers, gender-affirming schools, performing arts equity, nonbinary educators, educational policy reform


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 weeks ago
48 minutes 53 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
How Queer Educators Can Interrupt Bias & Model Brave Conversations | Ep. 183 (with Sean McGill)

This episode is for teachers, school leaders, and DEI facilitators who want to create more inclusive classrooms while navigating fear, burnout, and systemic bias. Bryan (they/them) talks with Sean McGill (he/him) — a Chicago-based educator, anti-bias facilitator, and doctoral researcher — about what it means to teach, train, and show up authentically as a queer man across classrooms, police academies, and digital spaces.


Listeners will learn how to:

  • Interrupt bias in real time — even when you don’t know exactly what to say
  • Model queer authenticity safely in K–12 and adult learning environments
  • Build plans for bias response before harm happens
  • Teach digital media literacy to help students recognize online hate and misinformation
  • Balance vulnerability, safety, and advocacy in conservative or high-stakes contexts


Sean also shares insights from his upcoming dissertation on inclusive education and how his fourth-grade classroom became a model for age-appropriate queer visibility.



Key Takeaways

  • Silence is complicity. When bias shows up, saying something matters more than saying it perfectly.
  • Representation saves energy. Being visibly queer in education helps students imagine new possibilities for themselves.
  • Digital literacy is bias literacy. Our media habits shape our worldviews and fuel polarization.
  • Bias management > bias elimination. Awareness and response are the skills we must actually teach.
  • Bravery is a muscle. The more we lean into discomfort, the stronger our justice practice becomes.


About Our Guest

Sean McGill (he/him) is a Chicago-based educator, facilitator, and doctoral candidate in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy at National Louis University. A former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Sean has spent over a decade leading anti-bias and digital literacy workshops for students, educators, and law enforcement nationwide. His work centers inclusive education, identity visibility, and the power of conversation to interrupt systemic harm.


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.



Resources & Links

  • Museum of Tolerance – Combat Hate Program
  • The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024)
  • National Louis University – Ed.D. in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy
  • Teaching While Queer



Keywords

queer educators, bias interruption, inclusive education, digital media literacy, LGBTQ teachers, anti-bias training, queer representation in schools, managing implicit bias

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
52 minutes 25 seconds

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
How Queer Librarians Can Lead on Inclusive Literacy | Ep. 182 (with Bec Anderson)

This episode is for school librarians, elementary educators, and district leaders who want to create truly inclusive and affirming library spaces—without fear or burnout. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Bec Anderson (they/them), a nonbinary librarian from Kansas, to talk about what “Reading the Rainbow” really means, how librarians can push back against book bans, and why visibility matters in small communities.


Key Takeaways:

  • How to build a library collection that mirrors your students’ lived experiences
  • Practical ways to make queer and diverse representation visible in subtle, safe ways
  • The power of book choice as a pathway to empathy and lifelong learning
  • How administrators can support librarians during book bans and budget cuts
  • Why inclusive books benefit all students, not just marginalized ones


About Our Guest:

Bec Anderson (they/them) is a Title I school librarian in central Kansas with seven years of experience in education. Formerly a fourth-grade teacher, Bec now leads the “Reading the Rainbow” initiative—helping librarians and teachers ensure their collections reflect the full spectrum of student identities. They’re currently pursuing a master’s in Library Science and advocate fiercely for inclusive, student-centered literacy practices.


Resources & Links:

  • “Reading the Rainbow” session notes from Teaching While Queer Conference (available soon)
  • We Need Diverse Books initiative — https://diversebooks.org
  • American Library Association: ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom


Listen: wherever you get your podcasts

Subscribe: to Teaching While Queer

Visit: teachingwhilequeer.org

Follow: @TeachingWhileQueer


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: inclusive literacy, queer librarians, book bans, diverse classroom libraries, LGBTQ education, equity in schools

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 29 seconds

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...
1 month 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.

Show more...
2 months 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.

Show more...
2 months 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...
2 months 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...
2 months 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...
3 months 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...
3 months 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.

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3 months 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.

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4 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...
4 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...
4 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...
4 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...
5 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...
5 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.

Show more...
5 months ago
16 minutes 23 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.