Great ways to teach LGBT youth

I agree with the editors of Rethinking Schools when they claim that LGBT topics need to be discussed in class. I feel like the best way to do so is by putting on HSMTMTS and having them discuss the things they took notice of in the show, about LGBT topics. What was Ashlyn's coming-out story like? How did the other characters react to Carlos and Ashlyn coming out, who do you think were their biggest supporters? Were you surprised to see a love duet between Maddox and Ashlyn? Were you surprised during the first love duet between Carlos and Seb?  If you are LGBT what LGBT character did you find yourself relating to most; Maddox, Big Red, Ashlyn, Maddison, Seb, Carlos, or Andy? Were you surprised when Andy turned out to be hiding his feelings for Big Red all along? Which LGBT story did you find the most touching; Madly, Seblos, or Andy X Big Red? Why? The beautiful thing about this show is how they take all minority groups and put them in a way that young minds can understand, while it mainly focuses on LGBT characters it also includes Hispanics, blacks, autistics, those whos parents are struggling financially, those who are being abused by their parents, and those with anxiety and puts it in a way that a young child will be able to understand. So even if the child may not relate to the LGBT aspect they can still find something to relate to.

I do understand that I will need to get permission slips signed by parents before showing their kids this show. But I genuinely do feel like this would be a great lesson plan. Due to the amount of diversity in the show, it would also provide a great project opportunity by having each student pick a character they felt like they related to and explain why they feel like they related to that character. For example, I relate to Maddox because we are both lesbians with autism who have problems making friends

.Example of the great LGBT representation Disney provides in hsmtmts.