As a former high school English teacher in the southeast, I recognized and attempted to address homophobia in my classroom and school. Additionally, in graduate school while working with schools and teachers in upstate New York, I became more aware of the problem of homophobia and its prevalence in those schools and classrooms, and the necessity to address this challenge. Moreover, with the recent LGBT suicides across the country, it is even more imperative to begin exploring how homophobia is addressed in our schools and classrooms. That being said, to begin addressing the challenges, we must begin engaging in reflective professional development. Thus, this website is intended for individuals to engage in such an on-line PD program involving schools/universities. Its purpose is to engage in reflective discussions surrounding how educators grapple with the issues surrounding homophobia in their schools. In doing so, it provides a platform for teachers around the country (and perhaps the world) to collaboratively examine this problem. So, please feel free to engage with us.
Best,
Joseph R. Jones, PhD
