Empowering LGBT+ Inclusive Education in Vietnam:
A Grassroots Approach to Systemic Change
After college graduation, I joined Oxfam Young Leaders Fellowship, reinforcing my decade-long commitment to LGBT-inclusive education. My goal is to establish Bon Bon as a leading social enterprise that provides educational tools on gender inclusivity and justice, addressing the challenges posed by Vietnam’s restrictive environment and limited funding for civil society since 2008. However, a key challenge for the movement remains: queer teachers in Vietnam face discrimination, job insecurity, and social stigma, with little legal protection.
PARADOX
Queer teachers in Vietnam face double economic challenges in Vietnam’s education system. Firstly, the basic salary of teachers in public schools is very decent and it is very limited for them to gain adequate resources for their career progression despite job security. For queer teachers/educators, their job security can be threatened by discrimination, limited legal protections, and societal stigma, as compared to their heterosexual colleagues.
Besides, speaking about LGBT+ community in classroom settings could be considered ‘culturally-inapproriate’, which can put their teaching career in danger. In his research “Queer identity inclusion in the EFL classroom: Vietnamese teachers’ perspectives”, Dr Vu Tran Thanh points out potential unemployment as one of the primary causes making teachers hesitant to incorporate LGBT+ content in their classrooms. Because of the compulsory heternomativity imposed on teachers in the highly-gendered educational system, they are hesitant to speak up for LGBT-related topics, even in case of gender-based violence against LGBT+ students. Paradoxically, teachers are key factors to solve this complex problem for their students. This paradox has prevented teachers from joining advocacy for LGBT-inclusive education. Therefore, I believe teacher empowerment is an critical affirmation for LGBT-inclusive education advocacy.
Addressing the Paradox: Grassroots Initiatives and Alliance-Building for Teacher Empowerment as a Solution
Members of IDEA Vietnam (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality & Accessibility for Vietnam)
To address this, I founded IDEA Vietnam (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality & Accessibility for Vietnam), a community-building initiative supporting queer and female educators in public schools. IDEA Vietnam will conduct workshops for 50 educators to promote LGBT+ inclusion, ultimately aiming to create a supportive community where educators can address gender-based violence and advocate for LGBT+ issues. Under my leadership, Bon Bon provides essential educational resources and tools, while IDEA Vietnam builds a support network, empowering a network of educators fostering inclusive classrooms. This dual approach aims to drive a movement for LGBT+ inclusive education in Vietnam, with potential impacts that reach beyond borders to inspire regional change.
Educational reforms and international collaborations also offer potential for professional growth and better economic conditions. Navigating these challenges and opportunities requires both systemic change and leveraging supportive networks for teachers. By taking these actions, young leaders can help create a more equitable and inclusive economic environment for LGBT+ teachers and students in Vietnam.
A Path to Sustainable Change : Influencing National Education Policy
My 5-year plan is to accelerate my LGBT+ inclusive education advocacy from the bottom-up approach. This commences with my continuing work with IDEA Vietnam and Bon Bon to invest in the community of educators and individual advocates. They will in turn amplify impacts on policy-making processes in Vietnam, advocating for the integration of LGBT+ inclusive curricula within the national education framework.
In the short term, IDEA Vietnam and I will work to build alliances and mobilize support to empower teachers in integrating LGBT+ inclusion into school curricula. I continue fostering community growth through IDEA Vietnam’s online seminars and youth town halls, where young people can engage with gender theory and inclusive education. This initiative also aligns with my post-Oxfam Asia fellowship, which involves creating and sustaining a network of 50+ youth advocates who actively participate in IDEA Vietnam’s efforts, enhancing social trust and community impact.
Regarding my medium term plan, I aim to establish Bon Bon Organization as a leading social enterprise offering Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality, and Accessibility (IDEA) resources for extracurricular programs in Vietnam’s schools. Initially, Bon Bon will partner with five schools in Ho Chi Minh City to promote IDEA values through activities aligned with the Ministry of Education’s extracurricular policy. This model will lay the groundwork for expanding to 10 schools within two years, with further scaling through strategic partnerships to reach a broader network nationwide.
Within the next three years, Bon Bon plans to introduce self-paced learning tools supporting programs and activities about LGBT+ inclusive education, allowing both students and teachers to engage independently. These tools ensure lasting impact with minimal educator involvement, and the revenue generated will fund Bon Bon’s future training projects for educators and advance its resources, supporting sustained educational growth in inclusivity and diversity.
In the long term, my career goal is to influence Vietnamese policy to integrate LGBT+ inclusive curricula nationally. Through efforts to dismantle stigmas around gender and LGBT+ issues, I aim to create an inclusive educational atmosphere that uplifts all students. By working towards gender equality and inclusive education, I aim to enhance Vietnam’s collaborative education initiatives and ASEAN, amplifying the impact of education reform for marginalized communities.
