Presenting a range of data obtained from secondary schools in the UK and US, this path-breaking book explores the role played by language in constructing sexual identities. Analysing the often complex ways in which homophobia, heterosexism and heteronormativity are enacted within school contexts, it shows that by analysing language, we can discover much about how educators and students experience sexual diversity in their schools, how sexual identities are constructed through language, and how different statuses are ascribed to different sexual identities.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Confronting the context -- Researching language and sexuality in educational settings -- Using sociolinguistic frameworks to explore the school experiences of LGBT+ youth -- Educators' perspectives on language and sexual diversity in schools -- Exploring ideologies of sexuality in curriculum documents -- SRE classroom interaction analysis and the construction of sexual identities -- Closing remarks.