Thread by @JamesMartinSJ

The second presentation at #Outreach2021 is "LGBTQ Ministry in Catholic High Schools and Colleges," with two experienced educators: Shiva Subbaraman, founding director of @Georgetown's LGBTQ Center, and Ish Ruiz, a doctoral candidate and high school educator in San Francisco.

Ish Ruiz: LGBTQ students can be considered "at risk."

Ish Ruiz: 86% of LGBTQ students feel harassed in schools.

Ish Ruiz: Many Catholic students feel supported in their schools--but only "behind closed doors"

Ish Ruiz to teachers: Be proactive. You have LGBTQ+ students in your classroom! Teachers should ensure visibility from Day One. Mention LGBTQ+ students when discussing safe spaces. Consider asking pronouns. Have plans to address bullying and follow it.

Ish Ruiz: Remind your students that they are part of the church. They are "living bricks" in our church.

Ish Ruiz quoting a mentor: "Hope has two beautiful daughters: Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are and Courage to change things."

Shiva Subbaraman is the founding director of the first LGBTQ Center in any Catholic college in the US, at @Georgetown

She quotes Fr. Howard Gray, SJ: "God loves LGBTQ people and the church is still learning."

Shiva Subbaraman: Using the insights of W.E.B. Dubois: We often think about LGBTQ people as "problems." We should think about "creating engaged citizens."

Shiva Subbaraman: When we think about LGBTQ "problems" in the university, we often focus only on the student. But students are not "problems." Rather, we need to think of the entire "ecosystem," strengthening all parts of the university--faculty, staff and families.

Shiva Subbaraman: "The most important path is to move from tension and contradiction to paradox and mystery.
This is a mystery of the human condition. A reframing will help us create programs that address this."

Shiva Subbaraman: "It's important to know when to reflect, when to deflect and when to genuflect."

Shiva Subbaraman: "This is about helping our students live their fullest lives."

Ish Ruiz on protests over LGBTQ inclusion in high schools: Those who disagree with us are also members of the community. But what education and training are you offering them so that they understand how the charism of the school includes helping LGBTQ students?