https://conservancy.umn.edu/items/a3f11ba6-f37e-4fd0-8e8f-fba86b676cc3
Essential Voices: The Lived Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Individuals in a Rural Midwestern School
Abrahamson, Heather
2020-12
Title
Essential Voices: The Lived Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Individuals in a Rural Midwestern School
Authors
Abrahamson, Heather
Published Date
2020-12
Type
Thesis or Dissertation
Abstract
Homophobia, transphobia, and heteronormativity are prevalent and damaging forces in the world. Employing a thematic topic analysis of available research on these structures, I argue that empirical research, especially in rural areas, has been neglected and is incomplete. Drawing from interview data with ten lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students, five teachers, and three administrators, this work seeks to contribute to the much-needed research surrounding homophobia, transphobia, and heteronormativity in one rural school. This dissertation also employs a composite narrative methodology (Willis, 2019), which details the lived experiences in narratives of Jamie, Charlie, and Justice. It also employs space, spatial justice, feminism, and antivillainification as theories for analysis.
Keywords
Heteronormativity
Homophobia
LGBTQ
Rural
Transphobia
Description
University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. December 2020. Major: Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Advisor: J.B. Mayo. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 186 pages.
Collections
Dissertations
Suggested Citation
Abrahamson, Heather. (2020). Essential Voices: The Lived Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Individuals in a Rural Midwestern School. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/218739.
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Controversial presentation at Becker school board draws outrage from LGBT groups
By Babs SantosUpdated March 14, 2022 10:38pm CDT
BECKER, Minn. (FOX 9) - LGBT students, teachers, and supports showed up to protest a presentation by a controversial group to the Becker school board that activists say espoused anti-Transgender rhetoric.
“I think that it’s it against everything that a school is supposed to do,” said Heather Abrahamson.
On Monday night, the special school board meeting in Becker brought out a packed house of protesters.
“This is disgusting,” said Skyler Seiler, a Transgender student at the school. “I can’t believe this, we are humans too. I don’t know why they’re treating us like we’re not. It is your job, as school board members, to make students feel safe and welcome.”
The meeting was dedicated to a presentation from the Minnesota Child Protection League.
“I think that it’s harmful, I think that it’s going to have horrible repercussions,” said Heather Abrahamson, an adviser with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance for the school.
The MCPL is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group and the presentation offered an alternative perspective on Transgender youth, sparking the outrage of LGBTQ students.
“Human rights don’t have two sides so bringing in another side just doesn’t make sense to me,” said Heather Abrahamson. . .
Not related but the story came back to me after nearly 60 years. In Junior HIgh, we had a fellow student names “Robby” and it was US History class. We were to study the civil war. “Robby” who was none too bright, asked the teacher” Mr. Dory, who won the civil war? Mr. Dory answered back. Well, “Robby,” if you come to class everyday and listen to the lessons, you will find out who won the civil war.
Years later I bumped into “Robby” and after exchanging pleasantries found out he became a housing contractor and became quite rich—he did eventlually find out who won the civil war. Although I don’t know if the information did him any benefit.
Billionaire Elon Musk recently amplified a post on X that stated: “Liberal women will divorce their husband and only let him see his children once a month. Then cry about how ICE hurts families.”
I, myself, am not wanting to stigmatize women, but there are the irrational ones who put their energy protesting ICE which are taking horrible dangerous criminals off our streets. Don't they understand the threat to their security these criminals pose if somebody does not stop them?
I taught at that very school years ago.
An older teacher (Korea vet) told me “Any teacher that doesn’t vote Democrat was a damn fool!”
Another one was the shop steward for the union and wore a jacket from a local bar where he sat and drank every night.
After I left, two of my fellow teachers had an affair that was a local scandal.
I was ordered to give a passing grade to the star running back who was a good bit below failing - I did.
Her dissertation topic says it all and is likely filled with crap like “lived experience” and “intersectionality” that are the chatter of faculty lounges and dissertations by such academic giants such as “Dr” Jill Biden. Parents should show up in droves at the school board and get her ass fired.
School Boards these days are being hoodwinked by academic charlatans like the recently fired superintendent of the Des Moines, IA school system, who was revealed to be an illegal alien with a criminal record and totally phone academic credentials.
The students are getting a firsthand lesson in the effects of Toxoplasma Gondii on an adult human female's brain, including one symptom of Toxoplasmosis where infected hosts are emboldened to the point of ignoring safety.
This is typical. If you’re a leftist, you believe you’re the smartest and most moral person who ever lived. Therefore, your inferiors should bow to everything you say. This woman is an insulting little snit.
Another Reason to Homeschool...
The Teacher shows the students how stupid she is and they’ll learn NOTHING from her
Until parents get involved and show up for Board meetings, school boards will just sit back and hope the storm blows over. Parents need to get in the school board’s face about this. 80% of your property taxes go to support public schools. Since public schools aren’t teaching their kids, but are rather indoctrinating them, perhaps they should withhold 80% of their property tax payments until schools start educating their students.
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