The Golden Trident

By Nyah Marquez-Dean

Photos by Nyah Marquez-Dean and Aiden Craver

In 2024, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, tracked more than 900 anti-LGBTQ incidents across the U.S., including many bomb threats, vandalism, and assaults. GLAAD also tracked a spike in education related incidents, with nearly a quarter of all anti-LGBTQ incidents targeting school staff and students over LGBTQ identities or support. An environment that breeds negativity and unsafety for queer students is one that cannot function as a positive learning or social environment. Hate and ignorance toward queer topics in school will only encourage increasingly negative, narrow minded views on queerness in both educational and every day environments.

A study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that more than half of American adults believe that parents should be able to opt their children out of any learning about LGBTQ history and issues. Another found that nearly 70% of teachers reported that there was no or almost no mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in their classrooms in the 2022-23 school year. While simultaneously, more and more Americans are pushing for restrictions and removal of protections for transgender populations. More queer individuals are threatened or assaulted, and more of our youth develop hateful, misguided views. A lack of understanding creates an increase in bigotry, and with our schools not educating, and often outright shunning any queer topics, it is worryingly easy to find hateful, even violent protest against queerness itself. 

One of the most used arguments against the inclusion of LGBTQ figures and language around children is the fear of a presumed increased risk of predation and indoctrination. Likely stemming from paranoia surrounding the AIDS epidemic, the stereotype that LGBTQ individuals, especially gay men, are disproportionately responsible for cases of child molestation has remained prominent, and incorrect. 

A 1994 study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reported on 352 children referred to a clinic for evaluation of suspected child sexual abuse. Of them, offenders were identified in 269 cases. Two were identified as “recognizably homosexual,” producing a 0%-3.1% risk. A. Nicholas Groth, a psychologist specializing in sexual abuse and its effects, asserts that child predators find themselves drawn sexually to children whom they mentally identify with, creating an increased rate of male sexual offenders preying on young boys. This does not indicate a disproportionately high risk of sexual harassment by gay men.  A child predator’s motive has nothing inherently to do with homosexuality, and they are often repulsed by the idea of pursuing relationships with adult men. Queer individuals are no more likely to prey on children than their counterparts, but this misrepresentation often results in unfounded violence and prejudice against them. 

Another massive factor in the push against queer education curriculum is the mischaracterization of gender affirming care. Gender affirming care, often entwined with people’s perceptions of transgender individuals, can refer to many routine procedures for people who aren’t transgender, including breast reconstruction after mastectomy, hair removal and hair transplant procedures, and many others. Fears associated with gender affirming care specifically for transgender people, especially youth, include fear of mutilation and external pressures.

More than 30 major medical associations, including the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have announced official  for adequate support and healthcare for transgender youth. Some have described the withholding of gender affirming care as child abuse, noting its proven ability to decrease risks of depression and suicide in transgender youth. A lack of information and accessibility to health care does not aid transgender youth, but fuels untrue, discriminatory rhetoric that does more harm to children across the nation than the health care that many fear. 

The creation and use of inclusive education curricula can introduce safer, more encouraging learning environments, and create better educational opportunities and outcomes. In 2019, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, found that schools that create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ history and culture have better educational outcomes and safer learning environments. Students had higher overall GPAs and missed fewer days. Quality education on LGBTQ people and history fosters safer, more encouraging learning environments for all students, and reflects the value of equality and kindness for all students and citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.