Acting Out! Combating Homophobia Through Teacher Activism

by Mollie V. Blackburn (Editor), Caroline T. Clark, Jill M. Smith

A much-needed counterpoint to the sweeping rhetoric of reform, this important book offers a nuanced depiction of the challenges and possibilities at the school and classroom level. Through the experiences of urban high school teachers who partner with their local university, Del Prete provides unique insight into teaching and learning in the midst of reform. He effectively illustrates why focusing on teaching practice and school culturesmore than standards and accountabilityis a more fruitful way to achieve real and lasting change.

Genres: Education, LGBT, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Melanie Carpentier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important and provoking compilation of stories from LGBTQIA+ teachers and LGBTQIA+ ally teachers. I would challenge every pre-service teacher to read at least a few chapters from this book. I have LOVED reading lots of YA literature, but I have greatly missed these kind of theoretical/professional development texts. The authors do really good job at questioning their personal motives and biases by ending each chapter with more unanswerable questions. This book has changed my thoughts on what it means to be a reflective teacher. By no means is it without flaws, but I enjoyed how the teachers pushed into what seems to be a sensitive topic in our culture today.

[Kinsey Rubio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several different accounts of teachers and teacher educators' experiences with LGBTQ activism in education. Acting Out! is a great resource but multiple accounts sometimes lead to circling around concepts rather than construction.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did NOT just read this because one of my committee members is an editor. I swear.

This is a collection of essays by a variety of educators (K-12, university level, various subjects) who are committed to eradicating homophobia in the classroom (and world beyond). Some of the contributors are straight allies, others are gay (some out in the classroom, some not). These essays discuss issues such as the resistance in starting a GSA in a high school, what to do with a homophobic student who refuses to do assignments, the journey of including non-heteronormative texts in the classroom, etc. Several of the essays deal with intersectionality--how race and class and sexuality combine to complicate identity (again, both in the classroom and in life). Most of the essays are well written, the citations aren't overwhelming, the stories personal but grounded in theory, etc. They get a little repetitive in some regards--the resistance to any of this work is a theme that runs across most of the essays--but each writer is situated differently to make the work applicable across many strains.

I highly recommend this, and my timing of it was spot-on, since I was faced with the challenge of dealing with a homophobic student in class/assignment this week. I think that my reading of this text informed my response to this situation.

[Dena Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so useful in examining critical inquiry groups and supporting my own thesis work!
The following, concluding quote from Mollie V. Blackburn inspires me to move forward:
"If this is the kind of work you want to do, I encourage you to put your commitments and passions out into the world for others to see. Some will be repelled, but others will be drawn to your values, not because they mirror their own, but because between you there is a promise of learning, teaching, and getting into some difficult work that matters. I encourage you to connect with those who are drawn to this promise. Among those of you drawn to the promise, love yourselves for being committed to the work. Support one another in the work. Together, rehearse possible ways of responding to heterosexism and homophobia. Challenge yourselves to listen to and understand alternative perspectives. Actively seek such perspectives. Allow yourselves to experience and transcend threat. Assert strong stances, but continue to listen and learn, and respect your right, as well as the rights of others, to change where you stand. Do not allow your inevitable frustrations to thwart you. All the while, work for change in your classroom, school, and broader community. Such is the work of an activist community." (p. 158)

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a collection of case studies and essays by activist teachers engaged in inquiry groups. The topic is how to deal with homophobia in school settings, and the essays range from how to deal with resistance in the school and community to teaching LGBTQ texts in the classroom to helping teachers decide to be "out" or not. There was also a good essay for first year teachers, which I think was one that made me think and moved me. It has been a while since I was a first year teacher, but I had to struggle with the idea of how much of myself and my beliefs to present or not in public. In fact, it is something I struggle with to this day, especially given the community I live in.

This is a book for teachers and teacher educators. I believe it is a book we should be promoting to student teachers. Only reason I did not rate it higher is that this is not light reading. It can get a bit heavy at times, and it is clearly designed for practitioners. With that out of the way, it is one that belongs in every education library.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really think this as a great collection of perspectives and examples of the work done through a Teacher Inquiry Group focus on LGBTQ issues in teaching and education. Each of the nine chapters written by different group members presents a unique standpoint through intensely personal stories that easily grab the reader while the array of people and ideas are held together through the intersectionality of the writers and their teamwork. The writing feels naked- it's open and rings with honesty citing as many struggles and questions as accomplishments while remaining positive and productive. I like this book both for its potent subject matter that is addressed in both breadth and depth and the candid presentation of action oriented inquiry. While I understand the intent of the title, subtitle, and summaries, which are appropriate, I did feel like the book was more than advertised and better. Somehow, to me, the compelling nature of the writing and the vivacity of the subject didn't come through until I started the book.

[RandomScholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have for anyone thinking of teaching LGBTQ inclusive curriculum! This book is filled with personal short stories from real teachers who described what their experience was like. These teachers range from elementary school to high school, to college professors in teacher preparation programs. This book will give you insight as to what it is like to teach LGBTQ inclusive curriculum day in and day out. This book also describes the challenges as well as different ways to overcome them based on real life experience.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book. Very helpful on a practical level, as well as inspirational.

[Liesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was edited/written by a group of teachers I have recently joined called the pink TIGers. exciting stuff.