Closeted or Out? Gay and Lesbian Educators Reveal Their Experiences about Their Sexual Identities in K-12 Schools

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender school educators are practically invisible within the nature of heterosexist and homophobic education (Blount, 2005). “Openly gay and lesbian teachers were once thought of as immoral, and in some states coming out is still a risk to one’s job” (McCarthy, 2003, p. 182). One’s sexual orientation has nothing to do with the reasons lesbians and gay men become educators (DeJean, 2004). The purpose of this study is to determine how gay and lesbian teachers negotiate their identities and how those affect their relationships in school, as well as what effect their sexual orientation plays on their professional practices, roles, and responsibilities. Four gay and lesbian teachers and two gay administrators were interviewed about their experiences in their school communities. Additionally a focus group consisting of five gay and lesbian Catholic school educators, including a soccer coach and a football coach from an all boy’s Catholic school was conducted.