Not Alone

Between 1970 and 1985, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) educators publicly left their classroom closets, formed communities, and began advocating for a place of openness and safety for LGB people in America's schools. They fought for protection and representation in the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, as well as building community and advocacy in major gay and lesbian teacher organizations in New York, Los Angeles, and Northern California. In so doing, LGB teachers went from being a profoundly demonized and silenced population that suffered as symbolically emblematic of the harmful “bad teacher” to being an organized community of professionals deserving of rights, capable of speaking for themselves, and often able to reframe themselves as “good teachers.” This prescient book shows how LGB teachers and their allies broadened the boundaries of professionalism, negotiated for employment protection, and fought against political opponents who wanted them pushed out of America's schools altogether.

Between 1970 and 1985, lesbian, gay, and bisexual educators (LGB) formed communities and began advocating for a place of openness and safety for LGB people in America's schools. They fought for protection and representation in the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers in New York, Los Angeles and Northern California.

Jason Mayernick is an assistant professor of social foundations and leadership education at the University of North Georgia.

List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter One: The National Education Association: Teacher Sexuality and Professionalism
Chapter Two: The American Federation of Teachers: Negotiating National Union Policy
Chapter Three: The Gay Teachers Association of New York: Community and Relationships
Chapter Four: California and the Image of LGB Teachers
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Index