Abstract

To explore the possibilities of and make a case for LGBTQ+ representation in the formal K–12 curriculum of small-town Rockbridge County, Virginia, the authors have imagined a history textbook called “The LGBTQ+ History of Rockbridge County.” The excerpts from this imagined textbook, created to represent what local LGBTQ+ curriculum could be, are both an exercise in creative writing and design as well as a collection of concrete stories and experiences from our home county. With the help of input from Rockbridge County High School’s flagship LGBTQ+ Alum Network (gathered via survey, email correspondence, and online focus groups), the authors designed textbook pages that provide a window into the people, places, and practices central to LGBTQ+ survival and life in Rockbridge County. Although this textbook does not exist (yet) as a complete standalone work, these pages may serve as a foundation for future projects about LGBTQ+ life in our home county and in other similar rural communities. By referencing traditional textbook aesthetics and providing a small glimpse into a rich local LGBTQ+ history, these excerpts illustrate both the costs of our erasure and the possibilities of our inclusion in formal K–12 curricula.

How to Cite:

Hart, C. & Mayock-Bradley, C., (2025) “The LGBTQ+ History of Rockbridge County: Excerpts from an Imagined Textbook”, Journal of Research in Rural Education 41(6), 1–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.26209/JRRE4106-04

Rights: Copyright