Chapter 5: Developing Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Student Leaders In And Out Of The Classroom

Within leadership development, as in other areas of higher education, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students have been underrepresented and in some cases systemically excluded (Roberts, 2007). This chapter explores intersecting socially just leadership and sexual orientation. We begin by presenting an overview of the theories that gave birth to the field of leadership development. We highlight these theories to provide context for understanding leadership learning and shed light on the inherently heterosexist paradigms that guided early leadership theories. We then discuss sexual identity development theories to offer insight into the experiences of LGB student leaders. We conclude by discussing implications and offering recommendations, with the goal of advancing a more inclusive leadership praxis.