Fourteen Recommendations to Create a More Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Academic Biology

Authors

Katelyn M. Cooper, University of Central Florida
Anna Jo J. Auerbach, Salisbury University
Jordan D. Bader, University of New Hampshire, Durham
Amy S. Beadles-Bohling, University of Portland
Jacqueline A. Brashears, CUNY La Guardia Community College
Erica Cline, University of Washington Tacoma
Sarah L. Eddy, Florida International University
Deanna B. Elliott, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Elijah Farley, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Linda Fuselier, University of Louisville
Heather M. Heinz, University of Washington Tacoma
Madison Irving, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Tanya Josek, Illinois State University
A. Kelly Lane, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Stanley M. Lo, University of California - San Diego
Jeffrey Maloy, University of California, Los Angeles
Michelle Nugent, North Carolina State University
Erika Offerdahl, Washington State University
Juan Palacios-Moreno, University of Minnesota - Duluth
Jorge Ramos, Stanford University
Joshua W. Reid, Middle Tennessee State University
Rachel A. Sparks, Illinois State University
Ashley L. Waring, Illinois State University
Mike Wilton, University of California, Santa Barbara
Cara Gormally, Gallaudet University
Sara E. Brownell, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2020

Abstract

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and otherwise non-straight 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.

Comments

Original publication:
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, Stanley M. Lo, Jeffrey Maloy, Michelle Nugent, Erika Offerdahl, Juan Palacios-Moreno, Jorge Ramos, Joshua W. Reid, Rachel A. Sparks, Ashley L. Waring, Mike Wilton, Cara Gormally, and Sara E. Brownell. "Fourteen Recommendations to Create a
More Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Academic Biology." CBE—Life Sciences Education, 19:3, 2020, doi:10.1187/cbe.20-04-0062.

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