Turning Loud Hate into Louder Care: Supporting Queer Youth in Schools

This session invites educators to explore the real experiences of queer and trans students and to understand how acts of public hate affect their sense of safety and belonging. Drawing from her community organizing and weekly work at Pride Corner on Whyte in Edmonton, Claire Pearen shares insights from a community that responds to hate with collective care, visibility, and joy. Educators will learn how queer youth experience school environments, what barriers they face, and how caring adults can create spaces where identity is celebrated rather than questioned. The session blends community experiences and stories, evidence based understanding, interactive activities, and some reflection. The hope is that teachers will leave with practical strategies that protect dignity, strengthen student confidence, and create classrooms that communicate safety, affirmation, and care every single day.