Queer Justice at School: A Guide for Youth Activists, Allies, and Their Teachers

Much change is needed to make school communities more affirming and inclusive of gender and sexual diversity. This timely book is written for secondary students and their adult allies who are working to make schools more supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people, and their families. Grounded in scholarship, the text offers information, ideas, guidelines, inspiration, and resources to support grassroots efforts to envision and build more just and liberatory school communities. The author shares case studies of youth activism and profiles of these LGBTQIA+ activists to show what is possible when young people take action to improve their communities. Meyer explicitly acknowledges the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and discusses working in coalitions to address related forms of injustice, including racism and white supremacy, ableism, colonialism, and classism, as well as biases around religion, immigration status, language, and culture. This hands-on guide is readable and accessible for use in extracurricular clubs or as a source for classroom assignments in grades 6-12.

Book Features:

• Written in a language appropriate for students and adults working together in student clubs like GSAs or after-school community centers.
• Provides figures and activities that can be used to guide action planning.
• Demonstrates that some of the best change happens when it is led by youth.
• Moves away from the dominant discourse that focuses on harm reduction, risk narratives, and reducing bullying and harassment.
• Includes a chapter that discusses relevant laws and policies.
• Offers a companion website that provides updated links and resources for readers at elizabethjmeyer.com/queer-justice.

Elizabeth J. Meyer is a professor and program chair in educational foundations, policy and practice at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a former high school teacher, and author of Gender, Bullying, and Harassment: Strategies to End Sexism and Homophobia in Schools.