Non-Ethnic Minority Acceptance In Adult Education: Practice, Praxis, Or Still Just Theory

Abstract

This paper offers the reader an opportunity to better understand the dynamics that occur in adult education classrooms and workshops when sexual orientation is integrated into the subject matter. This issue relates to how learning about sexual orientation can create new knowledge about ourselves, about our differences, about our humanity, and how learning is either created or suppressed in the field of adult education. The paper examines four concerns in relation to sexual orientation: The degree of emotional and physical safety for the gay adult learner in the classroom, the impact of homophobia on both the gay and heterosexual learner and instructor, the freedom and support accorded the adult educator to practice from the reality of their sexual orientation, and the efforts being made by the adult education field to search out and utilize the resources available on this subject-both theoretical and practical.