Unheard Voices

Mission of Organization

"A collaboration between GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), and Story Corps to help educators incorporate LGBTQ history and issues into the classroom."

Curriculum Description

Unheard Voices is aimed at teaching LGBTQ history and features five different lessons. These include: The Invisibility of LGBT People in History, The History and Impact of Anti-LGBT Slurs, The Exclusion of LGBT People from Societal Institutions, Winning the Right to Marry: Historic Parallels, and Understanding Gender Identity.

Curriculum Materials Reviewed
  • Lesson 1 - The Invisibility of LGBT People in History
  • Lesson 2 - The History and Impact of Anti-LGBT Slurs
Source of Funding

N/A

Learning Resources
  • Literary Excerpts
  • Oral Histories
  • Legislature
  • Other Multimedia Primary Sources
Target Population/Grade Levels
Cost Per Classroom
Free
Training
N/A
Domain Presence
Critical Consciousness

Presence Evaluation: Some Presence

Evaluation Note: The lessons examines the way members of the LGBT community have been marginalized at the individual level. For example the lesson on anti-LGBT slurs discusses how words were systematically used to oppress people. There is less discussion about systematic oppression. 

Social Action

Presence Evaluation: Some Presence

Evaluation Note: There are guiding questions that direct students to think about hypothetical social action, but there are no further steps to achieve social action. The only explicit action is a lesson on how to be an ally.

Reciprocal Community Relationship

Presence Evaluation: Some Presence

Evaluation Note: The main discussion in the lessons is on how to be an ally. 

Systems Wide Approach

Presence Evaluation: Minimal Presence

Evaluation Note: Lessons focus on the role of language in oppressing groups but  does not explore many other aspects. of change at different levels of schooling. 

Explicit Teaching of Social Justice Principles

Presence Evaluation: Some Presence

Evaluation Note: The lessons does not explicitly discuss social justice concepts through the focus on LGBT rights is an act of social justice.

Self-Reflection

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Note: The lessons encourage self-love and self-understanding, especially pertaining to LGBT people and allies. Many of the discussion questions take into account the students’ perspectives. Most lessons have students reflect on what they would do in a given situation or how they would feel in response to a specific situation.

Evidence Based

Presence Evaluation: Not Present

Evaluation Note: To date, there has been no empirical study of these lessons to evaluate its effectiveness.

Inclusion and Equity

Presence Evaluation: Some Presence

Evaluation Note: Unheard Voices includes LGBT issues, but also brief examples of other marginalized groups. 

High Expectations

Presence Evaluation: N/A

Evaluation Note: We are unable to measure this since it is best measured through observation. 

Social Identities

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Note: The lessons focuses on identities mostly pertaining to LGBT people.