Science Educators and Researchers Must Uphold the Human Rights of Trans, Nonbinary, and Intersex Persons

Read full text
Authors: Quentin 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
+19 more 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, María Varelas
Cited by: 3
References: 188

Abstract

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.

Fields of Study & Subjects

LGBTQ Health Identity and Policy Sexual Differentiation and Disorders Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities

Publication details

Journal / source
Science Education
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
110
Issue
4
Pages
1001–1017
Publication date
21 April 2026
Language
EN