Episode Details

What does it mean to teach while queer in a country where inclusion and resistance collide? In this premiere episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) travels across the Atlantic to speak with Romain about teaching languages and advocating for inclusion in France. Together they reflect on growing up queer in a small town, finding love and security early in life, and how recent political movements in France mirror anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric in the U.S. They discuss the importance of bridging culture and language to create understanding — and why solidarity across borders matters more than ever.

Listeners will learn how to:

• Compare queer acceptance and backlash in Europe and the U.S.
• Teach about identity and equity within language and culture courses
• Support students facing discrimination without overstepping boundaries
• Recognize how global movements against LGBTQ+ rights intersect across nations
• Build allyship and resilience in queer academic spaces

Romain (he/him) is a French language educator and translator living in Valence, France. He teaches German and cultural studies at the university level and shares his journey as an openly gay teacher who brings inclusion and historical context to the classroom.

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This podcast explores the challenges and successes of queer representation in education, tackling topics like burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the role of advocacy in building inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies. It centers support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, aromantic, agender, two-spirit, and non-binary teachers, and addresses how gender identity in schools can be honored to combat isolation and foster community.

Resources:

European Commission – Anti-Discrimination and Equality Policies

ILGA-Europe – Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People

GLSEN – Educator Resources for LGBTQ-Inclusive Classrooms

UNESCO – Education and Inclusion for All

Keywords: queer educators, LGBTQ teachers, inclusive education, global LGBTQ rights, language and culture education, Teaching While Queer podcast

Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in education, educator burnout, book bans, workplace discrimination, tokenism, doxing, and advocacy—while sharing practical strategies for building inclusive classrooms, affirming school cultures, and safer learning environments. Episodes center gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans