ABSTRACT
Middle school students are at a crossroads in their social, emotional, and physical development. Perhaps, one of the most important considerations we, as educators, must keep in mind is that our middle level students are existing in a place where they are developing their own sense of personal identity, morality, and perception. Largely, our schools are heteronormative and by challenging this norm, teachers are able to present our students who are LGBTQ/gender expansive as part of the school community, not outsiders. Unlike the shifting political and societal landscape, schools have made no overt shifts to broaden this perspective.
