The Past Is Always Present: Bringing Queer History to Life in the Classroom | Ep. 197 (with Deb Fowler from History UnErased)

In this episode, host Bryan Stanton talks with Deb Fowler about the work of History UnErased, a nonprofit bringing LGBTQ+ history into K–12 classrooms through primary sources, theater, and creative learning.Deb shares how their project “The Past Is Always Present” helps students explore LGBTQ+ history through original plays, music, and improv exercises grounded in real historical documents. The result? Students aren’t just memorizing facts—they’re analyzing history, embodying historical figures, and discovering stories many educators never learned themselves.You’ll also hear about classroom-ready resources, teacher licensing options, and how educators across the country are using these tools to make history more inclusive and engaging.In this episode, you’ll learn:How primary source improv helps students understand historical contextThe story of William Dorsey Swann and early drag balls in Washington, DCHow theater-based learning can deepen student engagement with history and civicsWhat teachers can access through History UnErased’s curriculum and case studiesWhy educators often discover LGBTQ+ history alongside their studentsIf this episode resonates with you, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with another educator who could use these resources.Visit History UnErased at https://unerased.org/.Support the showQueering Education is a Teaching While Queer podcast centering LGBTQ+ educators and the real-world realities of teaching while queer. We explore queer representation in education, including burnout, tokenism, doxing, visibility, boundaries, and advocacy for inclusive classrooms, safe schools, and anti-bullying practices.This podcast supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, agender, and two-spirit teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to reduce isolation, protect educators, and build community.Support the podcast and spread the message with merch from Equalitees.Me.Follow Teaching While Queer on Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.Keywords: Teaching While Queer, queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive education, gender identity in schools, safe classrooms, anti-bullying strategies, educator burnout, LGBTQ advocacy, queer visibility in education