Recap | The Importance of Inclusive Academia
On June 13, ShanghaiPRIDE hosted the Inclusive Academia Forum at Bridge+, inviting a group of educators and school counselors who support the LGBTQ community with specialized training.
The first speaker, history teacher Lee Ji Young, won a round of applause as she spoke about three major challenges faced by inclusive academia and their best possible solutions. From a historical, cultural, lingual, and biological perspective, she outlined the significance of introducing LGBTQ related education to school syllabi.
The following two speakers emphasized the importance of an informative LGBTQ education for middle school teachers. Believing in a future in which all teachers will have the proper education and resources to support LGBTQ students in class, they aim to make sure that all LGBTQ students feel safe and supported.
The next speaker, A Miao, gave us a glimpse into the inclusive academia that she learned in middle school. With the launch of specialized curricula on sex and gender, Miao helps diversify and foster self-confidence, career exploration, and other educational tools. In her talk, she appealed to teachers to encourage self-reflection in their students and utilize innovative teaching methods such as theater, board games, and social activities with an inclusive perspective on gender.
Our last guest speaker was MinMin, who shared her origin story of LGBTQ academia—a failure in a contest about homosexuality. This experience helped her realize the dilemma of the lack of inclusivity in academia and strengthened her resolution to promote knowledge and understanding.
All of the speakers eloquently shed light on the principle purpose of the Inclusive Academia Forum, which is to empower individuals to embrace who they really are with confidence and Pride.
ShanghaiPRIDE would like to thank our partners, sponsors, the LGBTQ community, and everyone who participated in the Inclusive Academia Forum this year, including the Australian Consulate General in Shanghai and Microsoft!
