This weeks topic is really tough to answer. Although, I feel strongly about LGBT rights I had never given thought to what would happen if a student came out to me. I had always planned on making my classroom a very safe place for students who identify as LGBT but had never stopped to question what I would do when this actually happened. But after some tought I think the first thing I would do is thank the student for trusting me and tell them in the most sincere manner possible that what they tell me will stay confidential and I am here only to help. From here I would try to get the student in contact with some other students who identify as LGBT in the school or community so that they have a good support system. I think it is also important to remind the child to be themsleves and to help the student discover their personal identity if they are stuggling.

One website I was reading on the subject had a good reminder: the student is the same person they were before they came out. I think this is SUPER important! I think that many people, whether they are aware of it or not, will begin treating a child differently based on personal judgement if they find out the student is not heterosexual. This could make the student self-concious, alienated, and distrusting of you as a confidant.

If the student had not come out to their family or friends yet, I think the first thing I would do is make sure they the student has a solid support system so they feel confident and safe when telling the people that are important to them. This could be a support group, the GSA at the school, etc. Although that student has trusted you enough to come out to you I think that there are other places that the student might get better support than from only you. Although you can help the student a lot within the school walls that will not be enough.

I found two really interesting artists that could be used in the art room to address LGBT issues. The first one is an artist name Claude Cahun who is a is a photograpgher who shots stagged portriats that challenge gender stereotypes. She is also a lesbian herself and could easily be incoperated into a portriat lesson with high school or junior high students. Her work is stunning. The other artsist that would be interesting to incopperate into the art room is Jeffery Jones who is a transgender cartoonist who has written comics in National Lampoon and Heavy Metal addressing LGBT issues.