An Animal Lover’s Journey to Becoming a Queer Educator

I’m Lydia, my pronouns are she/they, and I’m the Program Coordinator at Out In Schools. I’m also a nature documentarian, animal lover, and storyteller. I am passionate about empowering folks to narrate their stories in their own voice. This is how my journey brought me to Out In Schools, and why our work with youth is so personal and important to me.

I was born and raised in Treaty 6 territory traditionally stewarded by the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux peoples. Growing up as a queer person of colour, I’ve been nervous to open up to my community about my sexuality. There are very few queer Black characters in mainstream media, and their narratives tend to be about being rejected by their family and community. While these experiences are very real, they don’t offer a lot to folks who already feel isolated and hopeless. 

It’s a scary and lonely place to be—to feel like I must hide a core part of myself from my family and culture. It doesn’t help that folks of colour are also marginalized in queer communities. Youth of colour have told me that they felt seen for who they are, for the first time during an Out In Schools presentation. You have the power to gift a life-changing experience to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Start a monthly donation of $25 today to support Out In Schools!

While I struggled with my sense of belonging, I found joy and solace working with animals. At one point, I had a job training sea turtles: I would dive, handle turtles, do presentations with them, and get them to stay in place in front of a human audience. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I’ll never forget the wonder of being in nature and realizing I’m a part of it, tangled up in the beautifully messy tree of life. 

It was my work with animals that led me to becoming a facilitator with Out In Schools several years ago. I wanted to use my skills working with youth to connect with young 2SLGBTQIA+ folks—particularly racialized kids—and help them navigate an environment that can be so confusing and hostile. When I’m presenting to youth, I always emphasize that there is no ‘correct’ way to be queer. Just like the natural world, our queerness is made up of unique stories, roads less traveled, and marvelous possibilities.

That is why I believe in Out In Schools’ work. We use films and stories by queer people to show youth that they can explore their identities without feeling ashamed or alone. Our stories are powerful—they imagine a better world into being. These are your stories, too, and they can change the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Help us bring empowering queer content to schools and communities across BC by donating $100 today!

But it’s not just 2SLBTQIA+ youth who need our support. Last week, the Out In Schools team visited students and educators in Prince George. Educators there told us they were frustrated with the political atmosphere in the community, and felt a lack of support from administrators and colleagues. One queer educator expressed a palpable sense of fear. This is consistent with what we’ve heard from queer educators across BC: they are increasingly afraid to be seen by administrators, students, and parents as ‘pushing an agenda,’ often just by virtue of being who they are.

The cost to bring Out In Schools to one rural community is around $12,500—the amount a fellow dedicated donor has challenged you to match. With your help, we can fund up to two rural tours, and reach communities that need our presence the most. Double your impact by donating today!

Your support means the world to queer and trans youth, who deserve to see their stories—your stories—on screen. I’m so glad you are here. 

In solidarity,
Lydia Alemu (she/they)
Out In Schools Program Coordinator