“Be gay, do good” is the unofficial slogan of the Queer Ed Birds, a registered student organization (RSO) for teacher education majors who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
According to Dr. Christie Angleton (she/her), assistant professor in the School of Teaching and Learning and faculty advisor, the simple yet powerful slogan captures the essence of the organization. It reveals that Queer Ed Birds is a supportive space that encourages its members to embrace their authentic selves while fostering positive change within the field of education. The organization advocates for queer inclusivity, striving to ensure that queer individuals feel seen, valued, and safe within educational environments and beyond.
Queer Ed Birds is passionate about promoting queer literature in classrooms. They have successfully fundraised and applied for grants to purchase books featuring queer characters written by queer authors, which they donate to local schools. In addition, they keep members aware of resources on accessing gender-affirming garments and health care and how to confront difficult conversations about identity.
While Queer Ed Birds foster a supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ students, they also champion the importance of preserving the queer history of students at Illinois State University.
Under the leadership of president Melissa Gibbs, Queer Ed Birds organizes a mix of events, including monthly social gatherings and advocacy-focused programs. Occasionally, they host a panel featuring openly queer teachers who share their experiences and insights while also offering Safe Zone training to promote inclusivity. In the spring, Queer Ed Birds also host a panel of queer K-12 educators who are never shy to tell it like it is, allowing members to ask questions that may not be taught in their classes.
Gibbs (she/her) is a senior middle-level education major who holds endorsements to teach social studies and English language arts. Gibbs expressed her excitement about teaching any grade or subject after graduating from Illinois State University. She described Queer Ed Birds as a valuable resource for queer educators or anyone interested in learning more about the queer or teaching communities.
“Queer Ed Birds offers regular professional development meetings and occasional social events. The organization covers topics such as queer and education law and how to build an inclusive classroom library. They also host the annual ‘Holigays’ celebration,” says Gibbs. She emphasizes that Queer Ed Birds provides members with a supportive community of peers who share similar experiences and concerns. Gibbs encourages students to join the Queer Ed Birds through Redbird Life, as Queer Ed Birds welcomes all students who want to affirm queer in education.
Ellis Kent (he/him/they/them), a junior deaf education major, is treasurer of Queer Ed Birds. Kent encourages students from any major and sexual identity to join Queer Ed Birds. Kent believes that “Queer Ed Birds offers a unique setting for professional development and socializing that cannot be found anywhere else at Illinois State University.”
Learn more about Queer Ed Birds, including updates about meetings, events, and relevant resources and broader education of the LGBTQIA+ communities on Instagram at @queer.educators.isu.
