Festival of Education: Are educators doing enough to support LGBT+ young people?

Just Like Us Ambassador and teacher Anuli Changa (she/they) shares insights for educators from the Just Like Us panel at the Festival of Education, chaired by Suzi Ruffell.

“Are we doing enough to support LGBT+ young people?” This was the question posed for our keynote panel at the Festival of Education 2025.  The short answer is: “No.”

Representing Just Like Us, me and fellow ambassadors Iona and Lucas had the pleasure of speaking to this issue, chaired by the incomparable Suzi Ruffell. 

The four of us explored facets of our school experiences as young, LGBT+ people. We shared numerous concerns about the ways LGBT+ pupils can feel left out, isolated and unsafe in educational environments. It felt incredibly powerful to communicate to our audience of educators that there are steps we can all take to change this.

These seemingly small steps create inclusive spaces for LGBT+ people and, importantly, have a positive impact on everyone. It remains vital to have these conversations; I am not only a queer person but also an educator striving to embed inclusivity in every educational and work space I contribute to.

As Just Like Us Ambassadors, we are experts by experience. We share our lives as a tool for education, awareness and empowerment. One of the highlights of this work is hearing each other’s stories, the diversity of experiences, backgrounds, emotions, and actions for change. This panel was an example of this, candour and vulnerability, ably led and supported by Suzi, and between us we shared the following insights:

Approach with kindness 

Encourage everyone to ask questions, kindly, about everything – be curious!  Suzi shared how she and her wife impress this upon their daughter. Educators and parents, both at home and school, need to create an environment where everyone is encouraged to ask questions from a place of kindness.  Combining kindness with permission to make mistakes can alleviate the fear that so often comes with “saying the wrong thing”, and therefore saying nothing.

We are individuals

LGBT+ people are intersectional. Taking the time to get to know young people individually is crucial. Young people are rarely asked what they want or need in educational environments. Often, they have a preference but are not consulted. It is widely understood that teachers are time-poor, but even asking a young person for their thoughts and opinions can make a difference and indicate that you are a safe space.  Educators must encourage questions, teach young people they can express needs and, vitally, respond positively when they advocate for themselves.

‘Small’ things can make an enormous difference

Don’t assume anyone’s gender, share your pronouns before asking for others to. From “safe with me” badges, to degendering your collective language (instead of “boys and girls”, what about “everyone”, “team”, “folks”?), small acts can demonstrate active allyship every day. Ask yourself: do your graphics and examples represent everyone or just one group? How can you evolve them?

Second chances matter

We all make mistakes in our LGBT+ inclusion and allyship journeys. Even those who are initially reluctant, can choose to change. Though LGBT+ people don’t owe others second chances, I was struck by how giving loved ones opportunities to evolve and time to reflect can be life-changing, for everyone.

What concerns do teachers have about LGBT+ inclusion?

Questions from our Festival of Education audience aligned with the concerns of many educators I’ve worked alongside, and concerns I share, when working on LGBT+ inclusion.

From navigating conversations around religion and LGBT+ identities, to securing support from Senior Leadership, to age-appropriate representation in primary schools, the genuine interest we saw from educators in seeking solutions demonstrates that there is a willingness to learn and do better for all pupils. 

These invaluable discussions highlighted the conversations we need to keep on having. As both a Just Like Us ambassador and an educator, I will continue to add my voice to these conversations, value experts (by experience and otherwise) and widen these discussions. 

Change, with kindness, is needed in every interaction.

Just Like Us makes LGBT+ inclusion simple, effective and free. Book a School Talk, get support with an LGBT+ club with our Pride Groups Programme, and access our LGBT+ inclusive Resource Library for primary and secondary schools.