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Science educators and researchers must uphold the human rights of trans, nonbinary, and intersex persons

  • Quentin C. Sedlacek*
  • , A. M. Aramati Casper
  • , Katherine Doerr
  • , Sophia Jeong
  • , Nelly K. M. Marosi
  • , K. Rende Mendoza
  • , Marco Reggiani
  • , Shersingh Joseph Tumber‐Dávila
  • , Jennifer D. Adams
  • , Andrew P. Anderson
  • , Lucy Avraamidou
  • , Charlie K. Blake
  • , Tina Cheuk
  • , Sara J. Dozier
  • , Sarah L. Eddy
  • , Alexander Eden
  • , Rebecka Fingalsson
  • , Michelle Friend
  • , Agustín Fuentes
  • , Heather Haeger
  • Kathryn L. Kirchgasler, Rishi Krishnamoorthy, Catherine Lemmi, Jeffrey Maloy, Dax Ovid, Kathryn Ribay, Ronan O. Rock, Tatiane Russo‐Tait, Sara Tolbert, Brie Tripp, Maria Varelas
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Trans, nonbinary, and intersex persons are—and have always been—an integral part of humankind. However, these communities are under attack. We live in a time of growing state repression and the normalization of political violence against trans, nonbinary, and intersex persons throughout much of the world, and we have a responsibility to understand these conditions and consider their implications for science education. In this commentary, we briefly outline the growing state repression of trans, nonbinary, and intersex persons, illustrating this repression with examples primarily drawn from the U.S. context, while acknowledging similar forms of repression happening in many countries. We discuss the ways that scientific discourses and ideologies are being co‐opted to rationalize these attacks, explain the responsibility this creates for science educators, and examine the important work that has already been done to understand and dismantle oppression and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of these communities within and beyond science education. Finally, we offer recommendations for specific actions that science educators and researchers can take to uphold the human rights of trans, nonbinary, and intersex persons and communities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1001-1017
Number of pages17
JournalScience Education
Volume110
Issue number4
Early online date21 Apr 2026
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2026

Funding

The authors would like to thank Anthony Muro Villa III (he/him/él), Joel Alejandro Mejia (he/him/él), and several additional contributors who wished to remain anonymous for their insightful comments, suggestions, and assistance with edits to the document.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

  • STEM education
  • LGBTQ+ in STEM
  • transgender and gender diverse
  • Inequalities
  • science education

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