The facilitators of this session understand that teaching staff might be intimidated by the complexity of issues around LGBTQ+ identities and inclusivity and about trying to change learning and teaching styles and environments.

Therefore, this session aims to provide a space for you to ask genuine questions without fear of being cancelled, to find out about unfamiliar terms and issues, and to hear some real-life experiences of learning and teaching that demonstrate how important small things can be for LGBTQ+ students’ inclusivity.

The session combines information, discussion and activities, concluding by facilitating development of practical ways to make your course, curricula, classes, and interactions with UG and PG students more inclusive.

You will engage in activities exploring:

• Barriers to LGBTQ+ inclusivity in learning and teaching (classes and curricula), benefits of diversity for everyone in the class/ course, including staff and ways to overcome the first and maximise the second.
• How to make class content and language used in learning and teaching more inclusive according to discipline;
• How to establish and maintain an inclusive atmosphere and tone for learning and teaching activities and environments;
• How to avoid microaggressions that impede learning for those excluded;
• How to normalise all staff and student identities within your learning & teaching;

You will also engage in activities that encourage respectful debate about how LGBTQ+ issues might impact subjects or disciplines and explore how to keep up with LGBTQ+ issues and find resources to educate yourself and others, and to make your learning and teaching more inclusive.