Did I handle this situation wrong?
I’m a teacher, and I teach freshmen. For context, I’m bi but am pretty damn straight passing but I’m pretty out. It’s not something I generally bring up with my students unless it comes up more in a one on one or small group context, but I have a bracket I wear in bi flag colors.
Yesterday, one of my students noticed it for the first time in the middle of class and asked if I’m bi. I dont care at all if students know so I said yeah, I am, and asked why she was asking and she pointed out the bracelet. I don’t care that she asked or that she knows, but also asking people about their sexuality if they’re not more openly out isn’t really ok.
So today, I pulled her aside for a minute to chat with her. I told her that while I get why she asked and yeah, it’s clear if you know what the colors represent, asking people about their sexuality isn’t something that really ok to do and explained some of the reasons why (may only be out to a few people they’re close with, may not want to answer and have other people overhear, etc.)
She got upset and was like, “but you wear that bracelet”, and told her, yeah, I don’t care that you asked and I don’t care that you know, but I also don’t speak for all queer people and other queer people may feel differently. She was still mad about it. Did I handle this poorly?
Posted May 4, 2022, 1:59 AM UTC