Abstract
This article explores how Utah’s health education curriculum shapes the experiences of queer and trans youth. Drawing on critical ethnography conducted at an urban public high school, the study foregrounds the voices of six queer and trans students. Findings reveal that abstinence-focused and heteronormative curricula render these youth invisible, exclude critical information on queer, trans, and intersex health, and compromise students’ well-being. Participants described feelings of discomfort, irrelevance, and pressure to act as informal educators for peers. Their accounts highlight the urgent need for queerly responsive health education that affirms diverse identities, normalizes inclusion, and provides accurate, relevant information. Such changes are vital for fostering safer, more affirming school environments where all students can thrive.
Recommended Citation
Partola, Sonny
(2025)
"“We Talked About Straight People Sex”: The Health Education Experiences of Queer and Trans Youth in Utah,"
Journal of Multicultural Affairs: Vol. 10:
Iss.
3, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/jma/vol10/iss3/4
Included in
Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Gender Equity in Education Commons, Social Justice Commons
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