ABSTRACT
This chapter examines lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans, and queer (LGBTQ)+ students as a "special population" in order to shed some light on their experiences. It provides an intellectual space to articulate how to deconstruct hegemonic and heterosexist communicative practices and pedagogical approaches. The chapter offers queer communication pedagogy (QCP) as a form of critical intercultural communication pedagogy in order to question and challenge academic heterosexism and homophobic practices and pedagogies, and addresses some of the complex issues faced by LGBTQ+ students. It argues that the ultimate goal of this change, however, is to alter the culture of colleges with regard to sexual orientation as a form of diversity and to ultimately change the cultural climate as it is experienced by LGBTQ+ students. The chapter focuses on faculty and the importance of their "coming out" to the students for creating an inclusive classroom and also normalizing homosexuality or queerness.
