Noah, a third-year PE teacher at a large elementary school with nearly 1,000 students, discusses his experiences teaching. We talk about intense workloads and the all-too-common exhaustion of the profession. We talk about Gen Alpha, class sizes, students' SEL, and so much more. Grab a chair and get comfy in the Gay Teachers Lounge with us.

Books that were mentioned:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line by Elizabeth Lovatt

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Content note: This episode includes a story about transphobic language used by a colleague while discussing a transgender character on television. The language is censored. Triggering content timestamps: 14:52–16:36

Bex, a non-binary, transmasc kindergarten teacher, shares their journey of realizing the importance of being out as a non-binary educator, particularly after a meaningful interaction with a child in a rural area who later thanked them for their visibility.

They discuss the impact of queerness in education, including a humorous yet educational moment in class where their students incorrectly used the term "gay," but that moment provided an opportunity to teach about inclusivity.

Bex also highlights the importance of safe and supportive environments for such conversations.

We discuss the challenges of them often being misgendered by colleagues, particularly focusing on the role that peer pressure and social signaling play in social settings.

Here are some links to what we discussed!

Alison Bechdel’s "Fun Home": The Coming-Out Memoir That Became a Hit Broadway Musical: an Interview with Alison Bechdel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gputc-vy_zg

And Tango Makes Three read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJkYykP3qqA&t=17s

Julián is a Mermaid Read Aloud: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ll117-julian-mermaid-video/lets-learn/

What are Your Words read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqi1Q2x8PY&t=219s

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast.

Gabi is a kindergarten teacher with 7 years of experience in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community.

Gabi and I discussed her identity as a proud, out, queer educator and her commitment to creating an inclusive learning space for her students and their families. Our conversation explored how Gabi navigates cultural conflicts and misconceptions while being visibly queer in her field. We discussed the importance of representation of diverse people in children's literature and how Gabi's identity shapes the emotional world of her classroom. Gabi shared the struggles she still experiences as a queer educator, still wondering if she will be respected by parents, especially those from different cultural and religious backgrounds, in certain situations. Gabi's efforts to help young students understand that diverse people exist deserves a round of applause!

Gabi runs a TpT, too! Here is the link to her resources she has made for teachers of the Deaf and hard of hearing. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/kiss-fist-prints

If you're interested in learning American Sign Language, check out Gabi's recommended sites/apps:

https://www.lifeprint.com/

https://www.aslbloom.com/

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Today's guest is Josie, a 7th-grade teacher and transgender woman. We discuss her path into education and her journey of self-discovery. After six years in the museum field and some encouragement from her wife during the pandemic, Josie became a middle school teacher — and she’s now five years in, thriving in a supportive, accepting school environment. Her story shows how living authentically can lead to deeper relationships, greater joy, and a more fulfilling life.

Links to Josie's gay goings-on:

Witches of Moondale by Lou Wilham https://www.louinprogress.com/

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree https://torpublishinggroup.com/legends-lattes/?swpmtx=27319fbaaf59113fed54bd848a9dfc52&isbn=9781250342782&format=hardback#038;swpmtxnonce=64b2cd060c

The Locked Tomb Series by Tamryn Muir https://thelockedtomb.fandom.com/wiki/Gideon_the_Ninth_(Novel) Dogma Band https://officialdogma.com/#top

I hope you enjoy this episode and if there is anything you're interested in hearing in a future episode, please let me know!

You can send me a DM on the following socials:

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Rachel, a veteran high school art teacher, discusses her teaching experience in a Title I school and her journey of embodying a more masculine presentation through her hair cut and personal style.

She shared insights about her classroom environment, dress code experiences, and wearing clothing that aligns with her unique style as a masc-presenting lesbian. Rachel also discusses her experiences as an openly gay teacher and shares the importance of fully owning all parts of ourselves to be confident in our classrooms!

We talked a lot about her fashion and appearance in this episode, so if there is something else you'd like to hear about in a future episode with Rachel, please leave a comment below!

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Gabrielle is a former 5th grade teacher in Illinois who spent the first two years of her career teaching at a Catholic school and transitioned to a public school for another four years. We shared about ups and downs in our teaching careers and we spoke about internalized homophobia.

Gabrielle now runs her own Queer Wedding Planning company and you can reach out to her here! https://gabrielleruizevents.com

Here are the links to what we discussed! LGBTQ+ Brain Pops: https://www.brainpop.com/discover/post/leading-with-pride-why-lgbtq-representation-matters-in-education

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders Read Aloud on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LU2daQ2exs

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This interview was conducted on October 2, 2025. I am working hard to get caught up with my editing of these interviews!

• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Haley is a Midwest, lesbian, kindergarten teacher in her sixth year, and is pursuing her second master's degree in early education, policy, and leadership. She plans on becoming a principal and creating a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ educators. Let's celebrate her goal!

We discussed the challenging beginnings of her teaching career, being closeted and not so closeted at work, along with the challenges faced by any teacher who works in a low socio-economic/rural area with a lack of resources.

She also discusses how teaching in a red area of the Midwest brings its own challenges for any queer educator. We also discussed mental health challenges she faced during a tough time at her first school, along with the reality of relationship issues that newly "out" queer people often face.

Here are the links to what we discussed in this episode:

And Tango Makes 3 "read aloud" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcMJaXFr3Fs

All Are Welcome Here by Alexandra Penfold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwS3FOn4-Ow&t=236s

Helpful Resource Page on Codependency https://www.nourcounseling.com/all-resources/codependency

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• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

Lindsay is a rare guest on this podcast! She is not a K-12 educator, but I wanted to have her on because I believe that queer educators need to take the best care of themselves and need to learn helpful tools to use to do that.

When I started teaching in South Korea years ago, I would have never thought that during my 3rd year teaching there that I would get the calling to go back home, get credentialed, and teach elementary school in the USA. Out of the 6 years I taught in my own classroom in California, half of them were rough and rocky. If I had known the techniques that Lindsay teaches us in this video, I would have been a stronger version of myself and have had my own back more so than I was able to at the time. I hope the exercises help you reclaim your power, self-assuredness, self-worth, self-acceptance, and any other internal feelings that are on the low side within you at this moment. The nervous system reset practice will also be helpful for you to teach to your students.

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Here are the links mentioned in today's episode!

Sign up for Lindsay's e-mail digest and watch her 2- Part Embodiment Training: https://www.ourandare.com/embodiment

Trauma Release Exercises Website: https://treglobal.org/what-is-tre/

Go Noodle for Your Classroom: https://www.gonoodle.com/

Metta Meditation: https://www.mettainstitute.org/mettameditation.html

Helpful Article on Boundary Setting for Teachers: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_set_boundaries_as_an_overworked_educator

Mami Onami's Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/mami.onami/#

Lindsay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourandare/

• Recorded when the show was previously titled The Lesbian Class Podcast

This interview was conducted on August 5, 2025 and published on September 1, 2025. Yes, it takes me a long, long time to edit these episodes because I am learning as I go.

Dallas, an old friend of mine from our days of teaching English in South Korea is my guest today! She is a Canadian elementary school teacher with 13-years' experience, and one of the SOGI 123 School Leads at her elementary school in British Columbia.

Dallas discusses her teaching experience, particularly focusing on the challenges of teaching a diverse range of students with different cognitive levels in a medium-high poverty area.

She describes the support she receives from her EAs (Educational Assistants/Paraeducators) who help her with her students with special needs, and the overall positive support she receives from her administration.

Dallas also shares about her experiences running a Rainbow Club for elementary students, which has been well-received by both students and staff.

Dallas talks about how she chose to work at her school because she liked the people who would be her colleagues--which is the perk of substitute teaching first in order to get to know a school/district.

Our conversation also briefly touches on differences in teaching contracts between Canada and the United States.

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Here are helpful links!

Bathe the Cat Read Aloud on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehoKYVGZr-g

Prince & Knight Read Aloud on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxBFAw8Q1BY

California Department of Education's Page on PRISM: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/pl/prism.asp#:~:text=PRISM%20is%20a%20six%2Dcourse,for%20LGBTQ+%20youth%20in%20California.

A helpful FAQ on SOGI123 that I found online by Campbell River School District in BC, Canada: https://media.sd72.bc.ca/media/Default/medialib/sogi-123-q-a.cd3a0c14220.pdf

Claire, a transgender woman and former Navy veteran, shares her experiences transitioning in the military and discusses the challenges faced by transgender service members, including recent policy changes affecting their ability to serve. She provides insights into life aboard naval ships, her role as a nuclear training coordinator, and the decision-making process that led to her retirement from the military. I am extending my sincere apologies, especially to Claire, for taking so long to edit and publish this episode! Covid hit me hard in July and I had partied too heartily in May/June for Pride...I hope you enjoy this belated episode that was conducted on May 14, 2025.

Claire's sense of humor and wit make her one of my most endearing guests thus far on the podcast!

Some links from our discussion: Transmilitary documentary: The 2018 SXSW audience award-winning feature film debut by Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson, & Jamie Coughlin YouTube link: • Transmilitary (1080p) FULL MOVIE - Documen...

Rain in October by Leanne Keely / Ink & Quill Press: https://www.inkandquillpress.com/

And if you enjoyed this episode, please support my matcha latte addiction by treating me to one! buymeacoffee.com/thelesbianclass Thank you for listening, and I hope you got a few good takeaways! Be well. xo