Case Study

“Single”
The faculty at your school plans an end-of-the-year dinner. The partners of the married teachers are invited by name. “Single” teachers are invited generally to “bring a date.” Included among those identified by the organizers as “single” is an out lesbian who frequently mentions her partner, with whom she has lived for five years.

• Have you encountered similar cases of “invisibility” of lesbian/gay relationships?
  
  
• What are some implications for the educational environment provided to students following from this situation that is basically internal to the school staff?
  
  
• How have you responded, or might you respond, to similar instances?