'What are We Doing this For?' Dealing with Lesbian and Gay Issues in Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper reflects on the issues that arise when pre-service teachers are introduced to lesbian and gay concerns in schooling. It explores pre-service teachers' resistance and their commonly espoused attitudes and beliefs, as well as the difficulties faced by teacher educators in challenging the myths, stereotypes and biases that exist in university classrooms. The paper highlights the perceived (ir)relevance of gay and lesbian issues to pre-service teachers, the belief that sexuality is not the concern of teachers or schools, pre-service teachers' assumption of 'compulsory heterosexuality' in both the university and school classrooms, and the pathologising of perceived lesbian and gay identities as the cause of individual discrimination. Such beliefs may pose numerous pedagogical, professional and personal concerns for the teacher educator. The need to address gay and lesbian issues with pre-service teachers is paramount in the light of the homophobic violence, vilification and discrimination experienced by individuals in schools.