Claim OwnershipTeaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators.
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Teaching While Queer is a bold, unfiltered podcast at the intersection of queerness, education, and resistance.
If you’ve ever felt isolated in your classroom, silenced by policy, burned out by “inclusion” that’s all talk, or unsure how to survive and stay authentic in education—this podcast is for you.
Hosted by Bryan Stanton (they/them)—award-winning educator, theatre pedagogy scholar, and founder of the Teaching While Queer movement—each episode centers real stories from LGBTQ+ educators navigating book bans, identity erasure, gender-affirming teaching, burnout, institutional harm, and the radical act of staying.
You’ll hear conversations with teachers, professors, counselors, administrators, artists, and organizers who are:
- Teaching truth in hostile systems
- Building inclusive classrooms without self-sacrifice
- Reclaiming joy, rest, and collective care
- Refusing to disappear
This podcast isn’t about fitting in.
It’s about staying, surviving, and changing the system anyway.
🎙 New episodes weekly
🎧 Start with Episode 139: “5 Ways Queer Educators Can Build Inclusive Classrooms Without Burning Out”
189 Episodes
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Welcome to Teaching While Queer. I’m your host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), a queer theatre educator in San Antonio, Texas. This podcast was born from a simple truth — that LGBTQIA+ educators need space to share our stories, celebrate our resilience, and learn from one another. In this very first episode, I open up about my own journey — from being outed at thirteen to becoming a visible queer educator and advocate. I talk about the power of showing up authentically, the teachers who shaped me,...
What does it mean to teach while queer in a country where inclusion and resistance collide? In this premiere episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) travels across the Atlantic to speak with Romain about teaching languages and advocating for inclusion in France. Together they reflect on growing up queer in a small town, finding love and security early in life, and how recent political movements in France mirror anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric in the U.S. They discuss the importance of bridging culture...
"You don’t have to mine your trauma to make good art. Teach with empathy, but protect your peace.” In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Michael Musgrave-Perkins (he/him) — theatre department chair at Grand Center Arts Academy in St. Louis, Missouri — for an honest and insightful conversation about growing up gay in the Midwest, surviving being outed as a teen, and finding strength and authenticity through theatre education. Michael share...
“You can only be your authentic self when you’re safe — but even when you’re not, you can still leave glimpses of your light.” In this deeply moving episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) speaks with Dr. Jimmy Chrismon (he/him), a theatre education professor at Illinois State University, about navigating faith, fear, and authenticity as a queer educator. Jimmy shares his powerful story of growing up in a devout religious household, enduring conversion therapy, a...
“Affirmation is not just saying, ‘I accept you.’ It’s saying, ‘You are beautiful — exactly as you are.’” ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health within the LGBTQIA+ community. Please listen with care. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Dr. Lulu (she/they) — a retired U.S. Air Force pediatrician, TEDx speaker, author, and parent coach — to explore how affirmation can save lives. Born and raised in Niger...
“Theatre is the one place where my students can take off their masks — not put them on. That’s the real performance: being yourself.” n this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton sits down with Abe Ramirez (he/him) — a high school theatre director in San Antonio — to talk about what it means to create safe, authentic spaces for queer students on and off the stage. Abe opens up about his journey as a gay Latinx educator navigating faith, identity, and the politics of being out ...
“Language affects what our brains think is possible — and once kids have the words, their world gets bigger.” For theatre educators, teaching is about more than performance — it’s about creating brave spaces for self-discovery. 🎭 In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Susannah Crowell (they/she), a nonbinary musical theatre educator, to discuss how theatre classrooms can become affirming laboratories for identity, empathy, and radical acceptance. This conversation is...
“If you can’t teach through the lens of humanity, then what’s the point of the standards? The music won’t mean anything without compassion.” In this heartfelt episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Ben Wilkinson (he/him) — a music educator, color guard coach, and proud queer teacher from Northern California — to explore how the arts can become a refuge for identity, empathy, and connection. From surviving small-town homophobia to reclaiming his voice in education, Ben’s sto...
“I wanted every student I met to know they had one person on campus who would literally roll up to a teacher’s door for them — because I didn’t.” This episode is for theatre educators, LGBTQ+ teachers, and school leaders who are striving to create classrooms where every student feels safe, seen, and valued — even after facing trauma or burnout. In this deeply personal conversation, Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Kolby Campbell (he/him), a theatre teacher from Carrollton, Tex...
Ask A Queer EducatorIn this episode host, Bryan (he/they), speaks with visual arts teacher, Seth Day (he/him) about his transgender journey, transitioning from public education to nannying to private education, and working in a very supportive private school in Canada.Ever wondered how individuals discover their queerness and navigate the world with their newfound identities? Join us as we delve into a heartfelt conversation with Seth Day, a queer theater educator from New York, now residing ...
Ask A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they), sits down with Toronto-based French Immersion teacher Monseiur Steve (he/him). They talk everything from the difference in educational standards between the US and Canada to similar experiences growing up in the 90s. Have you ever wondered about the profound impact a teacher's personal journey can have on their approach to teaching? Well, prepare to be moved as we share an intimate conversation with Monsieur Steve, an inspiring grade two...Te...
Ask A Queer EducatorHost Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with lesbian elementary health and PE Teacher, Katelyn Hartman-Geier (she/her). The two discuss the moment you realize you're different, navigating social norms and self identity, and supporting teachers and students who are queer.Join us on an engaging exploration with the extraordinary Katelynn Hartman-Geier. Katelynn, a cisgender lesbian elementary school health and PE teacher, bravely opens the book of her life, sharing her vivid ...
Ask A Queer EducatorIn this episode, Host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), talks with Jeanne-Anne Tye (she/her) a high school English teacher in North Texas. We dive into the "A" of LGBTQIA talking asexual/aromantic identities and masking. Ever wondered how identity is navigated when it doesn't fit within society's normative parameters? Get ready to journey into the life of Jean Ann Tai, a Texas-based educator who identifies as Ace and Aromantic. We dissect the societal emphasis on romantic and...Te...
Ask A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Brittany (she/her) a bisexual English teacher in North Texas. The two talk about bisexual identity, conservative outrage, and doxing. Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a queer educator navigating a hostile educational environment? Join us on an enlightening journey with Brittany, an 11th-grade dual credit English teacher, who explores the complexities of being a bisexual woman in academia. In a captivating convers...Te...
Ask A Queer EducatorThis week host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), speaks with English Teacher Sarah Wilt (shey/they). The two talk about demisexual identity, working as a virtual educator for a Christian School, and past careers in Juvenile Detention and Camp. Technique: Highlight a guestEver wondered what it feels like to navigate the world of education as a queer educator? Prepare to be enlightened as we sit down with Sarah Wilt, a non-binary, bi and demisexual educator, who shares her rive...Te...
Ask A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they), talks with New Jersey, lesbian teacher, Danielle Earle (she/her) about current legislation and the black queer community.When I first met Danielle, she was a beacon of hope in a classroom that needed it the most. As an openly queer teacher navigating the complexities of a predominantly black and Hispanic school district, Danielle has truly become an advocate for her students. This episode unravels her journey, from her own struggles growing u...
Ask A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Clinical Psychologist, Alex Conway (he/him). The two talk techniques for creating safe and inclusive spaces, homophobia and ableism, and working with children with disabilities. You can learn more about Alex's new business LGBT Joy at www.lgbtjoy.comWant to uncover the layers of LGBTQIA+ acceptance and inclusivity in the education sector? Get ready to dissect these complex issues with Alex Conway, a counselor and the founde...Te...
Ask A Queer EducatorEver wondered what it’s like to be a trailblazing queer educator on national television? Sharon Tang shares her journey from the classroom to the screen in this eye-opening episode.For many, navigating the intersection of identity and profession can be daunting. Sharon Tang, a high school teacher and openly queer role model, discusses the challenges and triumphs of her journey. In a time where LGBTQ+ rights are under scrutiny, Sharon’s story sheds light on the importance o...
Ask A Queer EducatorJoin me on a journey into the life of Jake Noble (they/them), a non-binary, queer theater educator who has intertwined their personal identity journey with their passion for teaching. Hailing from Williamsburg, Virginia, Jake discusses their upbringing in Indiana, his self-discovery through theater, and how the COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for their self-identification. With a narrative that seamlessly blends personal experience and professional expertise, Jake's st...
Ask A Queer EducatorHave you ever pondered what it takes to live authentically while being a queer educator? Revealing her personal journey, our guest Andrea "Fitz" Fitzgerald (she/her), a lesbian math coach from Memphis, Tennessee, provides us with an intimate understanding of such a life. Andrea's journey, filled with the struggle for authenticity and the constant battle against biases, uncovers a remarkable tale of resilience and courage. Her unique perspective as a queer teacher will undo...
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