You might have seen that I began an open letter to the ELT industry earlier this year. To date, there are 325 signatures, with 303 verified. Yes, it could be more, but it could also be a lot less.
If you’d like to see the open letter, you can follow this link: https://openletter.earth/an-open-letter-to-the-english-language-teaching-industry-25a94707?limit=0
Many have asked what I was going to do with this letter.
Well, today I have emailed different organisations with a copy of the names (it’s public anyway) and this text:
LGBTQIA+ erasure in ELT
I recently published an open letter to the ELT industry (https://openletter.earth/an-open-letter-to-the-english-language-teaching-industry-25a94707?limit=0), and although some action is taking place in conferences and research, the industry (ELT, EFL, ESOL) is still failing the LGBTQIA+ community. I have since gathered around 300 signatures backing the open letter – please see the attached document for the list of verified names. It’s clear that there is strong feeling that the industry could do more to represent and support LGBTQIA+ professionals and students in our industry.
Despite numerous academic articles and research (such as Gray, Nelson, Merse, Paiz, Bollas), very little, if any, progress has been made in terms of representation in materials, classrooms or schools. This is one reason why I am sending this.
In line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, States are legally required to safeguard the rights of LGBTQIA+ people under international human rights law, including safeguarding freedoms of expression.
If LGBTQIA+ identities are not positively featured in materials, classrooms or schools, how does this correlate to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
Without LGBTQIA+ representation in materials and classrooms, the ELT industry is complicit in upholding prejudice, discrimination and misinformation. It perpetuates the falsehood that LGBTQIA+ identities are ‘not normal’, ‘invalid’ and a ‘taboo’.
The open letter calls on institutions, associations and colleagues to:
- listen to, and employ, LGBTQIA+ voices.
- represent LGBTQIA+ identities in publications, materials and social media.
- be transparent and public about supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, including plans and steps for the future – silence is unacceptable.
- demonstrate allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community.
- consider consequences of erasure.
- swiftly address hate speech in comments on social media platforms.
- recognise that the LGBTQIA+ community is diverse within itself.
- realise that LGBTQIA+ identities are not a taboo, and never have been.
As leading associations and organisations in the industry, you could lead by example by taking a stand that LGBTQIA+ erasure is no longer acceptable, and will not be tolerated.
Are you standing up for the LGBTQIA+ professionals and students in our industry? If so, how? If not, will you?
You are more than welcome to publish this alongside your response.
With best wishes,
Peter J Fullagar (+ around 300 ELT professionals)
The organisations I have sent this to are:
- IATEFL
- TESOL International
- Eaquals
- British Council
- International House World Organisation
- English UK
- Modern English Teacher
- Bridge TEFL
- NATECLA
Do I think this will make a difference? I don’t know – but I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try.
Do I think this will negatively affect me? I hope not.
Was I nervous to send the email? Absolutely. But knowing there’s the support of over 300 ELT professionals helps. So, thank you.