LGBTQ+ education is honestly one of the most important things we can do in schools if we actually want kids to grow up with real empathy and not just fake “I don’t care” tolerance.
I’m typing this from my kinda cramped one-bedroom in a midwestern city (think strip malls and too many Crumbl Cookies locations), it’s March and still stupid cold outside, my heat is making that weird clicking noise again, and I’m on like my fourth LaCroix of the day trying to get these thoughts straight. Or not straight. Whatever.
The Time I Was an Absolute Idiot About It
So picture this: it’s like 2008, I’m 16, wearing those awful skinny jeans with the rips already coming in at the knees from skating (badly), and my buddy Ethan pulls me aside after fifth period chem.
He goes “yo I gotta tell you something… I’m gay.”
And me? Brain.exe stops working. I literally said “wait like… you like guys? Or like you’re happy? Haha.”
Yeah. I said haha out loud. Like it was a punchline.
He just kinda nodded and walked away and we didn’t really talk the same for months after. I still cringe so hard thinking about it I physically wince. If there had been any actual LGBTQ+ education—not the one “respect everyone” poster in the guidance office—I might not have panicked and made it about my own discomfort. I might’ve just said “thanks for trusting me dude” and kept eating my Hot Cheetos like normal.
My computer on the net
(Okay that last one was a total miss on the search but imagine the regret face vibe here – me in a Target Starbucks looking like I just stepped on a Lego barefoot. Close enough for now lol.)
How Patchy and Messy It Still Is in 2026
Right now in the US it’s a total mixed bag depending where you live.
My friend who teaches 8th grade in Oregon has whole units on Stonewall, gender spectrums, and even brings in local queer elders to Zoom sometimes. Meanwhile another friend in a rural-ish part of Tennessee says they literally aren’t allowed to mention anything beyond “some people are gay and that’s okay don’t bully” without risking a parent complaint or worse.
I’ve read the headlines. Book bans, “don’t say gay” vibes still lingering in some states, curriculum fights in school boards that get downright nasty. For solid numbers on how this affects kids check out GLSEN’s latest school climate survey here or what the Trevor Project says about mental health impacts.
What I’ve Actually Seen When Schools Do It Right
Last year I helped out at this after-school program downtown—mostly middle-schoolers doing art and talking shit while eating Domino’s.
There was this one kid, maybe 12, super quiet, who after a session on different pronouns and identities just quietly told the group “I think I’m nonbinary but I didn’t have a word before.”
No one freaked. One girl just passed him the garlic knots and was like “cool, what’s your new name gonna be?” Another kid googled nonbinary flags on his school Chromebook and showed everyone. It was chill. Awkward at moments sure, but chill.
That’s what early LGBTQ+ education does—it takes the scary unknown out of it. Kids stop whispering and start asking normal questions. Or they just shrug and keep living.
Here’s some real quick things I’ve noticed from hanging around actual teenagers:
- The ones who’ve had decent lessons ask way better questions (“wait so pansexual is different from bisexual how?”) instead of rumors
- Bullying drops—not to zero, kids are still mean sometimes, but way less targeted crap
- Straight kids end up being the ones sticking up for their queer friends in the group chat
- And overall people just… act like humans more
featured | Reformed Perspective
(Wait this came back as a pretty river scene? Search glitched hard today – pretend it’s the hallway high-five moment with pride stuff everywhere and golden light. Vibes are supportive and chill, that’s the point.)
My Ongoing Mess-Ups (Because Growth Isn’t Linear)
Full disclosure: I’m still screwing up sometimes.
Last month I misgendered someone at a bar trivia night—caught myself two seconds too late, apologized like six times, bought them a drink, felt like trash the whole Uber home.
I used to think “bisexual” was just a phase people went through. Said it out loud at a party once. Got educated very quickly and very loudly by three different people. Deserved it.
But every time I mess up and then learn, it sticks better because I’ve had to feel the embarrassment. Imagine if I’d learned that stuff at 14 instead of 24? I’d have saved a lot of people (and myself) some hurt.
Okay Wrapping This Chaotic Post
Bottom line: LGBTQ+ education isn’t turning anyone anything—they already are who they are. It’s just giving everyone else the tools to not be a dick about it.
It’s empathy practice. Basic human decency 101. And yeah we suck at it in a lot of places still but that’s why we gotta keep pushing.
