Of Note: 40 More Lenses

Independent Queers: LGBTQ Educators in Independent Schools Speak Out by Dr. Philip D. McAdoo
Mascot Books, March 5, 2019

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During a time when relationship-based education continues to be a central facet of independent schools, Independent Queers offers an impactful account of the unique and shared experiences of 40 LGBTQ educators working in independent schools. Recognizing that heteronormativity is deeply embedded in our institutions and society at large, Independent Queers unearths the experiences of educators who must wrestle with and negotiate their social and professional identities in independent school spaces. This book explores subtle and explicit socially constructed messages that affect how LGBTQ educators navigate the workplace as they strive to develop meaningful relationships with their students. Through the profoundly personal and authentic stories of independent school educators, Dr. McAdoo delves into concepts of teacher identity, intersectionality, and social acceptance. In doing so, he raises our awareness that issues of gender identity, sexual orientation, and racial oppression cannot be viewed with a single lens. Independent Queers is a gift to the independent school community in the way it affirms and elevates the narratives of numerous LGBTQ educators who shape and influence the lives of children across our nation.