Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1390700
LGBTQ+ Rights in Education WEA is working to better serve the needs of both students and educators in the LGBTQ+ community. In response to a Wyoming school's request, NEA Director and Natrona County Education Association President Dirk Andrews and Northwest Region UniServ Director Jeny Gardner have developed a training session around educators' legal rights in relation to LGBTQ+ issues in the classroom. "You can get LGBTQ+ training at the national level," said Gardner, "but it doesn't cover Wyoming law and how this applies to our members in Wyoming." The newly-developed training is meant to clarify for educators what obligations they have to students and what they can do to help students feel more comfortable and detail educators' rights and protections in serving LGBTQ+ students. "In my experience, a lot of educators just don't know what they're allowed and not allowed to do," said Gardner. "They want what's best for students. They want their students to feel safe. They want their students to feel comfortable at school. But sometimes, we get caught in this dilemma: Am I allowed to say or do this as a teacher? What are the students' rights? The parents' rights? The schools' rights? This training addresses these questions for our members." WEA has also recently founded an LGBTQ+ caucus. The caucus is meant to provide educators with a safe place to raise and discuss issues impacting LGBTQ+ community members, including educators and students. In addition, Dirk Andrews says, both the training and the caucus are tools for educators to build a safe, inclusive learning environment for their students and themselves. "We have these students who are in our classrooms every day who are struggling to recognize and accept themselves," said Andrews. "Ultimately, being more aware can help students no matter where they are. That awareness allows us to be our best selves and help our students learn, grow, and thrive." Interested in learning more about how you can get involved in WEA's work around LGBTQ+ rights in education? Reach out to Northwest Region UniServ Director Jeny Gardner at jgardner@wyoea.org. 10 WEA News sat down with Northwest Region UniServ Director Jeny Gardner and NEA Director and Natrona County Education Association President Dirk Andrews to talk about the Association's work to support LGBTQ+ students and educators and help educators navigate their rights and legal protections related to LGBTQ+ issues.