Daphne and Krista, 

I think that this is a great project!

Right now, I only know of one student where I teach who may be willing to be
interviewed. There may be other LGB students, but she is the only one
attending classes right now who openly identifies as LGB (although, she does
not go around talking about her partner). There have been others over the
past couple of quarters, but they have stopped attending classes. My guess
is that some of the others left because they did not feel comfortable. I
have learned from the students where I teach that being gay is not
acceptable in the Black community (the student population where I teach is
about 95% African American). Most students quote the Bible to form their
rationale, while others say that Black homosexuality is different from White
homosexuality in a way that is embarrassing to the Black community. Some
don¹t care as long as they don¹t know. This conversation comes up at least
once each quarter in each of the classes I have taught and the comments
always fall along these lines. So, I wonder if you will find any differences
in attitudes based on racial/cultural lines.

Also, I think it would be great to include students who have left programs
in the study too because they might have comments/suggestions about the
comfort level for LGB students at the programs they attended and may even be
able to provide suggestions for ways programs can support LGB students while
attending classes. Perhaps that could be a question that all the students
are asked- What suggestions do they have for programs to support the
educational needs of LGB learners?

Ryan


On 9/25/08 2:56 PM, "Krista Hilton" <krista.hilton at gmail.com> wrote:


> Hello Andrea,

> 

> Thanks so much for your post and outreach. It will be awhile before we have

> approval from our university's IRB to conduct the interviews, but if you

> could email me (krista.hilton at gmail.com) or Daphne Greenberg (

> dgreenberg at gsu.edu) off list to provide us with the information you receive,

> that would be wonderful.

> 

> As well, I was wondering if anyone on the list may have any ideas on what

> types of questions we may want to ask our participants. We will be

> interviewing LGB struggling adult readers. We have come up with the

> following questions thus far:

> 

> 1.     How comfortable does the LGB literacy student feel in talking about

> his/her partner in the adult literacy classroom?

> 

> 2.     We are interested in the local LGB organizations that our LGB

> students are aware of in their respective area.

> 

> 3.     What is the LGB literacy students' involvement in LGB organized

> activities (i.e. what types of activities, why is he/she involved)?

> 

> 4.     What are the LGB literacy students' perceptions of the literacy

> climate of the LGB organizations the he/she may (or may not) be affiliated?

> 

> 

> 5. If the person attended high school, what was their experience like? Were

> people aware of their sexual orientation? Did this awareness help or hinder

> their desire to attend school and do well in school.

> 

> Thanks in advance for your time, and again, feel free to email us off list

> if you prefer!

> 

> Cheers,

> 

> Krista

> 

> On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 11:18 PM, hedgas99 <hedgas99 at mail.buffalostate.edu>

> wrote:

>> Hi Krista,

>> 

>> I had signed up for the diversity listserv as part of an

>> online class.  When I received your e-mail about your study

>> and asking about other possible learners, I asked a friend

>> who is in PFLAG, and she referred me to the Pride Center,

>> here in Buffalo, NY.  Sorry, but it will be next week before

>> I can get back to you, but I wanted you to know that I'll

>> try and find you some participants out here.

>> 

>> I'll be in touch,

>> 

>> Andrea Hedgecock

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

>> Diversity and Literacy mailing list

>> Diversity at nifl.gov

>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/diversity

> 

> 



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