Abstract
Between I and 13 million children are being raised by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) parents in the United States. This means that in early childhood settings across the country, many students are coming to school with diverse family configurations. There has been much research done to show the importance of a positive relationship between school and home life, especially for children in early childhood classrooms. A positive bond formed between families and early childhood educators is a key factor in a child's development and leads to better social, behavioral, and academic outcomes. Students tend to perform better and have higher self-esteem. Therefore, it is imperative that children see their diverse families represented in materials and lessons in schools. LGBTQ diversity training is needed for both pre-service and in-service teachers so they can learn appropriate ways of creating an inclusive classroom.
The purpose of this study was to explore the idea of LGBTQ inclusion in early childhood settings. This study surveyed current early childhood teachers to learn what inclusive practices they are currently employing in their classrooms, as well as their background knowledge in LGBTQ issues. LGBTQ parents who have or have had children in early childhood classrooms were interviewed on their experiences in an effort to gain real life understanding and insight into the struggles LGBTQ families face. LGBTQ parents were also questioned about their hopes and expectations for inclusive schools. Finally, the information gathered from the parent focus group and teacher surveys was used to develop a framework for an LGBTQ inclusive workshop for teachers to learn more about family diversity and how to incorporate these issues into their classrooms.