Chapter 21: “Care Comes First”: Creating a Space for Controversy

“I felt like I was an alien with three heads. And this was fifteen miles up the road!” Clad in a pastel plaid shirt, with coordinating bowtie, socks, and oxford shoes—a signature look for veteran teacher, Whitney W—she is no stranger to adversity. Whitney and her wife, Heather, have been married for two years, something she doesn’t hide from her students. In fact, both Whitney and Heather have worked in the same high school for ten years. Whitney was describing a recent experience, where she was working with a group of students with whom she had not met before. As they began snickering and texting each other, Whitney realized she was the subject of ridicule as a member of the LGBTQ community.