LGBTQIA+ Equality in Schools

How can we support LGBTQ students in school? What can educators do to become allies for our LGBTQ students? How does supporting LGBTQ students ultimately support all learners? These are some of the tough questions school districts are grappling with. Some school districts have said the community is not ready to take on these issues, but “our students are not waiting. Each time we fail to support students, it reaffirms to many students the idea that school is not a welcoming environment,” says our guest, Holden Kraus.  He is veteran educator and a proud LGBTQ leader. This podcast  addresses these challenging issues and provides insight to the LGBTQ community through the research results and studies conducted by  the Gay Lesbian Straight Alliance statistics.  In the podcast, Kraus  provides many ideas and resources to help educators on this journey. About our guest: After teaching 8th-grade math for nine years, Holden Kraus is now a Technology Facilitator for Kansas City Public Schools.  Kraus is a certified facilitator for GLSEN, a national network of educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters working to ensure that every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education.     His activism began in college with a campus organization and has grown to include sponsoring a middle school Sexuality and Gender Awareness and Acceptance Club. Holden performs with Heartland Men's Chorus, Kansas City's largest and highest profile gay organization and one of the most recognized arts organizations in the Midwest. Currently, he is a doctoral student and plans to complete his dissertation on LGBTQ studies in education. https://www.glsen.org/