Incorporating LGBTQ+-Themed Literature in the ELA Curriculum. How Teaching Queer-Themed Literature in English Language Arts Classrooms Challenges Heteronormativity and Homophobia

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject Cultural Studies - GLBT / LGBTIQ, grade: 1,0, Free University of Berlin (Institut für Englische Philologie), language: English, abstract: This analysis aims to highlight the importance of incorporating LGBTQ+-themed literature into the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum in U.S. high schools. The inclusion of such literature is proposed to create an environment where LGBTQ+ students feel safe, valued, and respected.
The text primarily examines the role and standards of ELA education in relation to the literary canon and the impact of the lack of queer representation on LGBTQ+ students. It argues that including LGBTQ+-themed literature in the ELA canon would lead to a more inclusive and safer educational environment.