Fourteen recommendations to create a more inclusive environment for lgbtq+ individuals in academic biology

Katelyn M. Cooper, Anna Jo J. Auerbach, Jordan D. Bader, Amy S. Beadles-Bohling, Jacqueline A. Brashears, Erica Cline, Sarah L. Eddy, Deanna B. Elliott, Elijah Farley, Linda Fuselier, Heather M. Heinz, Madison Irving, Tanya Josek, A. Kelly Lane, Jeffrey Maloy, Michelle Nugent, Erika Offerdahl, Juan Palacios-Moreno, Jorge Ramos, Joshua W. ReidRachel A. Sparks, Ashley L. Waring, Mike Wilton, Cara Gormally, Sara E. Brownell, Stanley M. Lo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and otherwise nonstraight and/or non-cisgender (LGBTQ+) have often not felt welcome or represented in the biology community. Additionally, biology can present unique challenges for LGBTQ+ students because of the relationship between certain biology topics and their LGBTQ+ identities. Currently, there is no centralized set of guidelines to make biology learning environments more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals. Rooted in prior literature and the collective expertise of the authors who identify as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, we present a set of actionable recommendations to help biologists, biology educators, and biology education researchers be more inclusive of individuals with LGBTQ+ identities. These recommendations are intended to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ identities and spark conversations about transforming biology learning spaces and the broader academic biology community to become more inclusive of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberes6
Pages (from-to)1-18
Number of pages18
JournalCBE life sciences education
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank SABER and Mary Pat Wenderoth for creating a biology education research community that encourages conversations around topics of equity and access. We thank the LGBTQ+ individuals who were willing to share their quotes in this essay and Arizona State University?s Biology Education Research Lab for feedback on this work.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 K. M. Cooper et al.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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