The University of Delaware School of Education (SOE) colloquium continues on Wednesday, Oct. 19, with a presentation on “Queering Sexy B(l)ack: Queer Youth and Pedagogies of Sexual Agency” by Ed Brockenbrough, associate professor of teaching and curriculum and director of the Urban Teaching and Leadership program at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education.

This presentation will discuss sexual health education in public schools, especially for students in the LGBT community who identify as “queer.” Despite concerns over the plight of queer students in American schools, efforts to make schools more responsive to the needs of queer youth fall short of queer-inclusive sexual health education. 

For black queer youth in particular, the limited access to sex education in public schools persists, even though the stakes surrounding their sexual health have intensified. Brockenbrough will outline how P-12 educators and other select stakeholders can support Black queer youth in ways that are culturally responsive and socially just.

This year’s colloquium series, “Framing the Conversation Towards Engagement and Transformation: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education and Human Development,” explores diversity, equity, and inclusion in terms of the college climate and curriculum as students across teacher education programs are prepared to be culturally sensitive in an increasingly diverse educational landscape.

This presentation will feature an enriched format, encouraging faculty, graduate students, and audience members to discuss with the presenter and each other how the presenter’s findings can be applied to UD’s initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in teacher education. 

The colloquium presentation will begin at 1 p.m. in 207 Willard Hall Education Building. A professional conversation will follow the presentation at 2. 

Students, faculty and community members with interests in education, culturally responsive pedagogy, sexual health education, and issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools and universities are encouraged to attend. These events are free, and no advance registration or RSVP is required.