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The journey of a LGBTQ+ educator, researcher and activist

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

The AIDS epidemic of the 1980s significantly hindered legal progress and adversely affected public attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in the United Kingdom (Clements & Field, 2014). During this time, the introduction of Section 28 legislation (Local Government Act, 1988) led schools to avoid discussing homosexuality altogether. When I attended school from 1985 to 1999, the only sexual orientation addressed was heterosexuality, although I frequently heard homophobic remarks. I was aware of one gay teacher at my secondary school because the other pupils gossiped about her. I recall a moment when a group of girls mocked this teacher behind her back for being seen walking to the staff party with her girlfriend. I challenged them, expressing how brave I thought she was for doing that. At the time, I felt scared that my peers might assume I was gay based on my response, but they did not seem to make that link. Though I admired the teacher’s courage and other LGBTQ+ individuals through my involvement in sports outside of school, I now feel saddened that I viewed their actions as requiring bravery. Throughout this chapter, I retrace and reflect upon my journey in the education sector as both a learner and a practitioner, explaining how these experiences have shaped my understanding and approach to leadership. As Frangeskou (2025) also describes, education influenced my decision to go back into the closet and later come out.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 125-136 (12 pages)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 24/02/2026

Publication status

Published - 24/02/2026

Publisher

Emerald Publishing, United Kingdom

ISBN (Print)

9781805926160

ISBN (Electronic)

9781805926139, 9781805926153

Chapter Number

10

External Publication IDs

  • Scopus: 105039119066

Host publication title

LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education: Visibility, Vision, and Voice

Host publication editors

  • Alex Baird
  • Catherine Lee
  • Charlotte Feather
  • Daniel Burman

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