| Description |
In the past five years, there has been a daunting, increased threat to the lives of LGBTQ+ people, namely children, across the United States. Because of the recent rises in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that is targeted at public schools, this study sought to understand precisely how K-12 spaces are impacted, if at all, by the greater homophobic culture present in the U.S., specifically Utah. Through a Queer Critical Ethnography, I identified four consistent themes in my research: A Culture of ‘PRIDE', Trapped Inside Utah's Sociopolitical Snow Globe, Waving the Rainbow Flag, and The Kids are Alright. My findings indicate the need for rethinking the current structure of K-12 public schools. Because of this, I suggest Queering public schools through critical introspection, compassionate connection, Queering teacher preparation programs, and utilizing Queer Productive Inefficiency (QPI). |
