Education is Everything
I'm often asked about my inspiration for our app Q Guide, and, time after time, my response boils down to three words, "Education is everything." Despite nearly 13.9 million US adults identifying as LGBTQ, topics surrounding the group are shockingly absent from school curriculums and nonpolitical conversations. Instead, we are seeing an onslaught of censorship and a rise in laws banning the topics in schools.
Laws, such as Florida's infamous "Don't Say Gay" bill, ban certain classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity. Unfortunately, this 2022 bill is not alone. Since this bill's passing, several more across the US have passed, aiming to "protect" young minds from learning about LGBTQ identities. Amendments to these laws have also included provisions to "out" students to their parents, meaning their sexual orientation or gender identity could be disclosed without their consent. Without inclusive education, many LGBTQ+ young people feel isolated or even unwanted in school. These laws can spread these feelings home, leaving youth potentially homeless or in abusive situations.
Recent discriminatory practices like these are also affecting education outside of schools. Recent book banning has prohibited Queer characters, stories, and history from public libraries across the US after being only previously banned from school libraries. These stories, often about BIPOC and Queer groups, are no longer a free resource for young people to learn about.
As famous author and advocate Hellen Keller once said, "The highest result of education is tolerance." While I agree with her sentiment, I argue that education is so much more. Education is the key to creating empathy, inclusivity, and respect for current and future generations. When we create an environment of education regardless of politics, we create safer schools and a fuller understanding of vital issues facing our society today. With each step we take towards removing the taboo of Queer lives, we alleviate a future interaction in a Queer person's life full of hate or awkwardness stemming from a lack of understanding.
Education is more than just terms and jargon. It's empathizing with experiences and being open to things you don't yet understand. As you continue learning with Q Guide or other resources, I urge you to listen to the repressed voices around you and learn about our shared experiences. Education is a lifelong journey, and with the ever-changing world around us, there's always more to learn.
Fight back against the silence.