How We GLOW

Abstract

Ethnodrama alleviates the burden on young people to explain to others the words and meanings that define their identities and sexualities. Our play, How We GLOW, explores, the ways lgbtq+ youth craft their own identities and communities, building from the past and utilizing new modalities like social media. As co-researchers, collaborators, and partners, we combine theoretical study with daily work in schools. The desire to connect with youth on their own terms drove this research. As adults, being in GLOW, a gender and sexuality student discussion group which stands for Gay, Lesbian or Whatever, offered opportunities to not only support lgbtq+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and beyond) youth, but to explore new labels and terminology and understand the issues that most impact lgbtq+ students. The question of identity labels, and how students (dis)connect on and offline, emerged from informal discussion with young people and were the questions that helmed our research. Too often, research about youth imagines young people, rather than listening to them and their stories directly. Not only did this form allow for those sharing their stories to feel empowered, but as the play grew and we produced it for over 20 schools, we saw the power of this piece in audience members seeing themselves in the stories.