Anti-Gay Curriculum: The Clash of Conservative Rhetoric and Queer Pedagogical Approaches

With the passing of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, anti-gay curriculum legislation has become a mainstream issue. Using the ideological frameworks of intersectionality and the epistemology of ignorance, the fatal impacts and covert intentions of exclusive curricula are explored. The analysis of conservative rhetoric and political strategies regarding education brings light to the manner in which anti-gay legislation justifies and solidifies toxic power structures in America. Alternative educational methods framed by queer pedagogy has the potential to liberate queer bodies from the confines of normative academic processes and pave the way for social change.