Wearing a gay slogan t-shirt in the higher education classroom: A cautionary tale

Abstract

Evidence from numerous studies suggests that homophobia and heterosexism remain common on university campuses. Since the 1970s LGBT academics have been encouraged to ‘put themselves on the line’ and ‘come out’ in the classroom, and in so doing empower LGBT students and provide them with positive role models. Wearing gay pride badges and t-shirts has been discussed as one way in which gay lecturers can come out and challenge homophobia. This paper explores psychology students’ reactions to a gay slogan t-shirt I wore in an undergraduate lecture, and considers whether wearing such t-shirts is an effective and productive way of challenging heterosexism and coming out in the classroom.