The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is seeking your assistance and guidance. As part of the AERA initiative to examine lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, or queer (LGBTQ) issues in education we are seeking research information and input from researchers and the behavioral and social science communities. Below is a Call for Ideas that is posted on the AERA website www.aera.net <http://www.aera.net/> . We ask that you distribute this call to other researchers, associations, organizations, and scholars who study LGBTQ issues and can add to the body of knowledge.
You may contact me at 202-238-3200 or edresearch@aera.net with any questions, concerns, or comments. I thank you for your assistance with this effort.
Sincerely,
George Wimberly
Director of Social Justice and Professional Development
Call for Ideas
Scholarly Knowledge on LGBTQ Issues in Education American Educational Research Association (AERA)
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is undertaking an initiative on research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) issues in education. In an increasingly diverse society, educators and policy makers face the challenge of fostering educational environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all students and teachers. Today, schools and teachers must consider whether the educational context facilitates learning for all youth, including those who are LGBTQ, as well as children who have LGBTQ parents. In a pluralistic society, administrators must consider whether teachers, aides, or other LGBTQ staff are hindered in the workplace because of discriminatory policies, practices, or comments. LGBTQ issues in education are relevant from pre-K-12 to higher education as well as in multiple educational contexts from classrooms and playgrounds to college campuses. Findings from empirical research can help us understand LGBTQ topics, specifically as they relate to education, children and youth, schools, and schooling.
AERA seeks assistance from scholars and researchers across fields to map the state of knowledge on LGBTQ issues in education. AERA aims to bring together research from diverse theoretical frameworks, ecological perspectives, and research methods in this work to assess what we know and do not know about LGBTQ issues in education and educational contexts.
This initiative to examine the state of research on LGBTQ issues in education has three components: (1) an extensive literature search and review, (2) an intensive small research workshop of scholars to be held in Fall 2010; and (3) this broad-based call for input and ideas on LGBTQ issues in education. This call is a key element of information gathering for the research workshop and ultimately for the research reports and publications that will follow. We seek contributions from scholars and researchers whose work addresses LGBTQ issues directly related to education (e.g., student experience and perspectives, child/adolescent counseling, school violence) or in adjacent research areas of relevance (i.e., identity formation, LGBTQ families, workplace discrimination).
We specifically ask your help addressing the following:
1. What are the key studies and empirical findings on LGBTQ issues directly or indirectly related to education, learning, or human development? Provide complete citations.
2. Whom would you consider to be the most significant scholars on LGBTQ research relevant to education and which of their work demands attention? Provide complete citations.
3. From the perspective of policy implications what do you consider the strongest research findings on LGBTQ issues? Please
provide complete citations.
4. From the vantage of your area of expertise what do you consider to be the greatest strengths in the current LGBTQ body of knowledge and research?
5. From the vantage of your area of expertise, what are the conceptual and methodological challenges and problems as they relate to studying LGBTQ issues?
You may enter your responses to these questions at www.aera.net <http://www.aera.net/> . We would like to receive your input no later than March 31, 2010. If you have questions, please contact George Wimberly, AERA Director of Social Justice and Professional Development, who is leading this initiative. He may be reached at edresearch@aera.net or at 202-238-3200.
