The silencing of LGBTQ voices in U.S. public schools

In a piece he wrote for Shuddhashar’s education issue, A. Scott Henderson, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Education at Furman University, describes the ways in which conservative political groups in the U.S. have squelched discussions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. He reviews what he sees as the most prevalent methods – curricular restrictions, opposition to non-normative gender identities, and book censoring/banning.

Over the past 30 years, Henderson has taught a variety of courses pertaining to modern U.S. history, gender studies and secondary education. He is the author of articles dealing with LGBTQ history and pedagogy, as well as books on the history of social policy in the U.S.