The critical importance of now

By Doug Alexander and Jennifer Gottschalk

In the NAGC LGBTQ+ Network, October is an exciting, important month, especially this October. There are three big reasons to celebrate. It’s LGBTQ+ History Month! We are busy preparing for NAGC Convention! And this year marks our ten-year anniversary as an NAGC network! Yet, though there is much to commemorate, the current socio-political climate looms and cannot be ignored.

Regrettably, there are many national, state, and local efforts that support policies for scaling back LGBTQ+ rights (Mulvihill et al., 2025). Gifted youth tend to be more socially and politically aware/reactive and/or have a heightened sense of justice compared to same-age neurotypical peers (Wexelbaum & Hoover, 2014). It stands to reason that adolescents who are both gifted and LGBTQ+ might be more likely to be sensitive to news media exposure about the federal government, state governments, and local governments across the nation passing and upholding policies and laws that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, such as the federal government’s current efforts to reduce rights and protections for trans individuals and putting pressure on corporations and universities to eliminate their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) supports (Singh, 2025). There is arguably also an undercurrent of anti-intellectualism in the form of funding cuts to universities, schools, scientific and medical research, and arts programs, among other institutions that promote education (Williams, 2025). Gifted LGBTQ+ adolescents are coming of age during a time of widespread and consequential socio-political change in the United States, in which they are witnessing not only the aforementioned challenges, but also hope in the form of mass protests against government efforts to diminish the LGBTQ+ community and other communities, such as the immigrant community, the science community, and the education community (Kim, 2025).

Despite everything that is happening, gifted LGBTQ+ youth continue their natural development. We do not have the luxury of waiting for perfect conditions to act. Our young people need supports now, regardless of the socio-political landscape. So what can we learn from history to guide us? What lessons does LGBTQ+ History Month provide?

As an educator, parent, and community member, a key idea you can uplift during LGBTQ+ history month is the power of individual and collective resilience in the face of personal and societal challenges. It may be as simple as telling a single person’s story, using a classroom resource like, Embraced or Excluded: Fact and Fiction about Famous LGBTQ+ Persons, by Dr. P.J. Sedillo (Pieces of Learning, 2024) and then discussing the ideas we might bring to our own communities. Another option is to research the contributions of LGBTQ+ people to the history of the state where you live. In Colorado, for instance, the revised social studies standards encourage educators to “identify and explain multiple perspectives including African Americans, Indigenous Peoples, Latinos, Asian Americans, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ, and religious groups when exploring events, ideas, issues in United States history.” Many school districts are using or in the process of implementing Depth and Complexity resources and gifted learners typically enjoy learning about events and information through the lens of multiple perspectives.

It is never a bad time to focus learning on primary sources, but during LGBTQ+ history month this becomes even more important as some sources may have reported about events or people through a biased lens or erased names and contributions from commonly used texts. Gifted students in high school sometimes have the option of designing their own research and studying lesser known figures from LGBTQ+ history would provide not only challenge but also affirmation for students who may be LGBTQ+ or LGBTQ+ allies themselves.

No matter what subject you teach or your area of expertise, a universal lesson from LGBTQ+ history month is the power of communities coming together to create welcoming spaces for all. In his book, Together: The Healing Power of Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World (Harper, 2020), the former surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, describes how humans' innate desire to connect is one of the best tools to combat loneliness and isolation. Make it your goal this month to invite, celebrate, and engage each student in your school and classroom. Help them learn a little more about each other and the incredible individuals who forged the paths contemporary LGBTQ+ individuals walk today.

At this crucial juncture in United States history, the NAGC LGBTQ+ network strongly promotes equitable opportunities and respect for each and every student, especially those with the intersectional identities of being neurodiverse and LGBTQ+. We, as caring adults, work to eliminate barriers impeding gifted LGBTQ+ student intellectual and social-emotional safety and development. As the current socio-political climate continues to create inequitable and unsafe environments for students with marginalized identities, our network urges all education stakeholders to align with our belief that each student should be afforded secure and supportive educational settings.

Join us in advocating for equality, equity, inclusion, and justice for gifted LGBTQ+ youth. Here are some action-items and resources we recommend:

• Write your three national legislators here, your local representatives (start here), and your local school board.
• Support pro-LGBTQ+ organizations, businesses, and advertisers. For instance, let store managers and owners know you appreciate them selling LGBTQ+-inclusive merchandise.
• Engage in LGBTQ+ History Month with your students/children by learning about and being inspired by advocates past and present (click here).
• Bring a friend to our big LGBTQ+ Network bingo scholarship fundraiser at the NAGC Convention in Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 15th, 7:30-9:00pm (Eastern Time); it’s a lot of fun and it’s for a good cause (to send gifted LGBTQ+ youth to an inclusive summer camp).
• Encourage colleagues and friends to join the NAGC LGBTQ+ Network. It’s free, there is no commitment, and it helps us grow membership and collective voice.
• Let a young gifted LGBTQ+ person (or people) you know that you see them, hear them, understand them, and support them. And show them that you do!

References

Kim, J. (2025, April 5). Nationwide 'Hands Off!' protests erupt against Trump and Musk. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/05/nx-s1-5353388/hands-off-protests-washington-dc

Mulvihill, G., Alexander, A., & Kruesi, K. (2025, January 20). Trump orders reflect his promises to roll back transgender protections and end DEI programs. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/trump-sex-gender-transgender-dei-order-245350b97e0c4dcc 221fefc49ef44699

Singh, K. (2025, July 30). Trump administration memo asks federal fund recipients to restrict DEI. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-administration-memo-asks-federal-fund -recipients-restrict-dei-2025-07-30/

Wexelbaum, R. & Hoover, J. (2014). Gifted and LGBTIQ: A comprehensive research review. International Journal for Talent Development & Creativity, 2(1), 73-86.

Williams, V. (Executive Producer). (2025, January 27). The price you pay for being smart. [Audio podcast episode]. In It’s Been a Minute. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2025/07/14/1263527175/its-been-a-minute-backlash-education