167. If Other Teachers Get to Do It, So Can I: One Queer Band Director’s Fight for Equal Treatment

167. If Other Teachers Get to Do It, So Can I: One Queer Band Director’s Fight for Equal Treatment

Author: Bryan Stanton July 24, 2025 Duration: 16:23
“If other teachers get to do it, why can’t I?” Band director Rachel Colby lives this question every day as a proudly out bisexual teacher in rural Virginia. In this episode, we dive deep into the joys and risks of LGBTQ+ visibility in schools, the daily dance between honesty and self-protection, and why setting boundaries with students is an act of love—not fear. You’ll hear: The real stories behind being the “first” out queer teacher for so many students, and what that responsibility feels...

Bryan Stanton (they/them) brings their experience as an award-winning educator and theatre pedagogy scholar to every conversation in Teaching While Queer: Advocacy, Community, and Resources for LGBTQ+ Educators. This isn't a theoretical discussion; it's a grounded, necessary space born from the Teaching While Queer movement, addressing the real and often unspoken challenges of existing at the crossroads of identity and the classroom. Episodes move beyond performative allyship, tackling the isolation educators can feel, the impact of restrictive policies, and the burnout that comes when institutional support is merely lip service. You'll hear from Bryan and their guests about practical strategies for survival and advocacy, fostering genuine community, and accessing resources that empower. The dialogue is unfiltered, focusing on how to maintain authenticity and resilience within educational systems. For LGBTQ+ teachers, librarians, administrators, and anyone supporting them, this podcast offers a vital blend of personal narrative, scholarly insight, and actionable solidarity, building a network of support one conversation at a time. Tune in for honest stories and tools that help navigate the complex journey of teaching as your full self.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice
Podcast Episodes
162. Why Queer Educators Make the Best Allies in the Classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:56
“I didn’t always get the lesbian nod—but I’ve always been a queer teacher.” In this heartfelt Pride Month conversation, Brian sits down with Fran McClain and Lisa Salvadore—partners in life and the classroom—to explore h…
161. Fear Is Not Policy Queer Teachers Must Stop Pre-Complying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:37
Pre-compliance is the quiet killer of queer visibility in schools—don’t hand them your silence. In this charged episode, we unpack three major 2025 court rulings—from the U.S. to the U.K.—and what they do and don’t mean…
160. Queer, Married, and Still Teaching Even as the World Burns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
“We eloped because we were scared—scared of what would happen when the new administration took over.” In this powerful follow-up, queer Latina art teacher Sharon Tang returns to share the deeply personal and undeniably p…
159. Teaching While Queer Is a Lifeline, Not a Liability [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:30
Your authenticity is not small—it’s a radical act of defiance. In this heartfelt solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on five transformative lessons from their conversation with queer icon Jeffrey Marsh.…
158. The Cruel Things They Say Mean Nothing to Healed LGBTQ+ Teachers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:40
“You’re not doing a little podcast—what you do is not little.” In this heartfelt Pride Month episode, host Bryan Stanton and viral educator Jeffrey Marsh dive into what it means to teach, live, and lead while queer—espec…
155. Queer Educators Are Done Waiting for Permission to Be Seen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:29
Pride Month ends—but your queerness doesn’t. For queer educators, June often brings rainbow logos and empty gestures—while silence reigns inside the school walls. In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stant…