Miss, do you have a husband?’: An exploration of the LGBTQ+ teacher experience

ANNE-MARIE WHALEY, ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER, MALMESBURY SCHOOL, UK Introduction ‘That’s a personal question,’ I say, as I mentally sift through my scripted responses in case of a follow-up, and risk-assess the situation. In 2017, the NAHT told us to ‘come out to students if we want to’ and called for the support of school leaders. However, coming out never happens just once and having to explain one’s identity can become wearing. With the legacy of section 28 weighing heavy on our shoulders, the prospect of ‘being different’ can evoke a fear of tokenism and prejudice in some and unfounded scrutiny in many. ‘Is it worth it?’ I then ask myself, as I weigh up the invitation to be a role model for young people and a pioneer in my profession against my deep-rooted fear of rejection or interrogation. The answer is always ‘I’m not ready, but one day.’ Research findings It is unclear as to how widespread this feeling is, with so little quantitative data, but there