Inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people (LGBT) has been an issue for many years now. As a result, many schools are incorporating LGBT studies into their curriculum to teach students about this group's history and experiences.
There is limited research on how teachers can best implement these studies. This article will focus on cognitive, emotional, and social pathways that shape attitudes towards LGBT inclusion in religious education.
Cognitive Pathway
One cognitive pathway involves teaching students about different types of families. Students can learn about LGBT families through books or videos that showcase them having children together with partners who love each other just like heterosexual couples do. Another cognitive pathway is presenting role models who represent diversity within religions so they can identify with those roles.
You could bring in speakers from your community who have come out as gay or lesbian and discuss their struggles during school assemblies.
Emotional Pathway
The emotional pathway involves providing support for LGBT students by creating safe spaces where they feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment. Teachers should create an environment where all students feel valued regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Teachers must provide resources for parents who want to talk about sexuality with their kids at home but don't know how because it may not be discussed in their household.
Social Pathway
The social pathway involves engaging with the larger community outside the classroom regarding inclusion issues such as bullying prevention programs or anti-bullying policies implemented across schools nationwide. The goal here is to encourage acceptance among peers while acknowledging unique challenges faced by LGBT individuals due to societal norms associated with religion and faith beliefs. This can also include encouraging student involvement in organizations like Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) which promote positive dialogue between straight allies and LGBT individuals on campus.
What cognitive, emotional, and social pathways shape attitudes, empathy, and behaviors toward LGBT inclusion in religious education?
The study of attitudes towards sexual minorities in religious contexts has been an important topic in psychology for decades now. Research shows that people tend to hold negative views about individuals who do not conform to their idea of normal gender and sexuality (Halberstadt & Sutton 2019). Cognitively speaking, these individuals are often associated with unconventional behavior that is perceived as deviant and morally wrong by most people (Szymanski et al.