View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

LGBT+ teachers in Ireland's experiences in primary schools.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: LGBT+ teachers in Ireland's experiences in primary schools.
Authors: O Brien, Trevor1 (AUTHOR) trevor.obrien@mic.ul.ie
Source: Sex Education. January2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p64-75. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Education of college teachers, *Psychology of teachers, *Elementary schools, *College teacher attitudes, *Research methodology, Psychology of LGBTQ+ people, Interviewing, Leadership, Professional identity, Psychological well-being, Thematic analysis, Social integration
Geographic Terms: Ireland
Abstract: While legislation has been introduced in recent years to protect the rights of LGBT+ teachers in Ireland, teachers' perspectives on the current reality are mixed and challenges still exist. Some teachers are comfortable stating their sexuality in schools, while others are not. This paper focuses on the views of seven primary school teachers, who discussed their experiences as LGBT+ employees in Irish schools during semi-structured interviews. The findings point to the importance of effective leadership as a means to make schools truly inclusive for all. The teachers also reported the wider school context being important including colleagues' attitudes towards inclusion and, in particular, LGBT+ issues. The need for school-wide professional learning was seen as central to becoming a truly inclusive school, whereby teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to combat discrimination in all its forms. Finally, the study highlights the issue of LGBT+ teacher well-being and how this can be affected by the level of support shown to teachers in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Sex Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 189848894
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: LGBT+ teachers in Ireland's experiences in primary schools.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22O+Brien%2C+Trevor%22">O Brien, Trevor</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> trevor.obrien@mic.ul.ie</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Sex+Education%22">Sex Education</searchLink>. January2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p64-75. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+of+college+teachers%22">Education of college teachers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+teachers%22">Psychology of teachers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+schools%22">Elementary schools</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+teacher+attitudes%22">College teacher attitudes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+LGBTQ%2B+people%22">Psychology of LGBTQ+ people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership%22">Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+identity%22">Professional identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+integration%22">Social integration</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ireland%22">Ireland</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: While legislation has been introduced in recent years to protect the rights of LGBT+ teachers in Ireland, teachers' perspectives on the current reality are mixed and challenges still exist. Some teachers are comfortable stating their sexuality in schools, while others are not. This paper focuses on the views of seven primary school teachers, who discussed their experiences as LGBT+ employees in Irish schools during semi-structured interviews. The findings point to the importance of effective leadership as a means to make schools truly inclusive for all. The teachers also reported the wider school context being important including colleagues' attitudes towards inclusion and, in particular, LGBT+ issues. The need for school-wide professional learning was seen as central to becoming a truly inclusive school, whereby teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to combat discrimination in all its forms. Finally, the study highlights the issue of LGBT+ teacher well-being and how this can be affected by the level of support shown to teachers in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Sex Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=189848894
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/14681811.2024.2425011
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 64
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Education of college teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College teacher attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of LGBTQ+ people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ireland
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: LGBT+ teachers in Ireland's experiences in primary schools.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: O Brien, Trevor
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: January2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 14681811
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 26
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Sex Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1