“Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter” - African proverb shared during a storytelling workshop at IGLYO’s 2025 Proud Pupils LGBTQI Inclusive Education Conference
Stories shape societies. They reveal who belongs, who leads, and who gets heard. That’s why inclusive education—and who controls the narrative—matters more than ever. At this year’s Proud Pupils LGBTQI Inclusive Education Conference, we were reminded how education can either empower or erase. We choose empowerment.
In this article, we’ll unpack the importance of inclusive education, highlight ways to foster safer spaces, and explore methods to empower learners of all identities. All grounded in the belief that storytelling, education, and inclusivity are the keys to building a richer, more equitable future for all.
Inclusion isn’t optional—it’s essential.
The Proud Pupils Conference brought together activists, educators, policymakers, and students from across the globe to address a hard truth: for LGBTQI+ learners, schools often feel unsafe. From bullying and discrimination to systemic barriers, the impacts are real and damaging.
Research shared during the conference revealed:
- Over 80% of LGBTQI+ youth report hearing negative remarks at school
- Bullying, harassment, and exclusion lead to increased absenteeism, mental health struggles, and lower academic achievement
- Discrimination doesn’t happen in isolation—it erodes social cohesion, peer relationships, and community wellbeing
But the conversation didn’t stop with problems—it focused on solutions. From workshops on how storytelling can help shape (and reshape) narratives to panel discussions on how to build skills within staff, the conference was full of inspiration and insight.
At dslx, we see the same ethos reflected in our academy, empowering neurodiverse and minority writers to upskill and share. Because education should reflect, respect, and uplift everyone. That includes LGBTQI+ learners, neurodiverse thinkers, and all creative creatures navigating their identities.
Identity-affirming education is essential for health, confidence, and creativity. The conference made that clear. And it inspired us to keep building spaces where people feel safe to learn, share, and tell their stories.
Three ways to build more inclusive learning spaces
So, how do we create spaces where confidence and belonging can grow? Whether you’re an educator, leader, learner, or community member, these are actionable steps to cultivate inclusion, drawn from IGLYO’s Proud Pupils Conference and our own work at dslx.
1. Share information
Empowerment starts with knowledge. And in today’s world, trusted information is gold. Oppression thrives in silence and misinformation, but when we share our stories, resources, and truths, we dismantle barriers.
Three ways to share information:
✔️ Amplify reliable resources that create inclusive content and support LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse learners like IGLYO, Amnesty International, and European Youth Forum
✔️ Use your platforms - big or small - to spotlight marginalized voices (#repost)
✔️ Stay curious: Seek out stories, data, and lived experiences beyond your own and listen with beginner’s mindset
Queer people exist in every space. Neurodiverse thinkers exist in every space. You might not see them because outdated systems have pushed them to the margins, but we’re here. At dslx, in classrooms, and in communities like IGLYO. Let’s make sure those voices are heard.
2. Get creative with curriculum and community
In marketing (our content agency day job), we’re constantly asking: What do people need? Inclusive education does the same, but better. It shares the stage.
True inclusion means listening to learners, adapting, and evolving. Curricula should be built around diverse needs, and communities should welcome all identities with intention and care.
Three ways to get creative with curriculum and community:
1. Regularly co-create learning spaces with student or user input
If you really want to be inclusive, share the microphone! Taj Donville-Outerbridge, award-winning activist, writer, student policy maker, and speaker at the 2025 Proud Pupils Conference shared a telling story: they once attended a “youth conference” where no young people were actually invited to speak. Taj voiced this to one of the event organizers, who made the choice to hand over their own time on the podium. That’s what redistributing power looks like.
2. Use tools like social media, surveys, and open forums to hear diverse voices
Creating safe spaces online was also a big topic at the conference. To ensure safe spaces and clear channels establish clear community guidelines that prioritize safety, offer anonymous feedback channels to lower barriers for honest input, and actively amplify underrepresented voices across platforms.
3. Implement visible, everyday symbols of safety and allyship
One example we loved from the conference was empowering leaders to wear small “You’re safe with me” pins, rainbow badges, or place identifying stickers on their classroom door. These subtle, visible signals that tell someone: This is a safe space to speak, ask questions, and exist as yourself go a long way in cultivating confidence and demonstrating allyship.
3. Transform silence into language and action
For generations, important voices have been silenced. But we can no longer let that be the case. And that starts with empowerment.
The late, great Audre Lorde called this out in her essay The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action. Her words remain a rallying cry for courage, self-expression, and the refusal to stay quiet.
Unfortunately, many communities—especially LGBTQI+ and other marginalized groups—risk exposure, discrimination, or violence simply for existing. Staying silent becomes a means of survival. But empowerment comes from changing that reality by creating safe spaces and providing the tools for self-expression, learning, and action.
At the academy and within communities like those at the Proud Pupils Conference, we believe in that transformation. It’s through this shared commitment to safety and expression that we find the courage to face difficult truths and inspire change.
Lorde’s questions still echo today, especially for those fighting for more inclusive education and safer spaces:
✨ What are the words you do not yet have?
✨ What do you need to say?
✨ What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day and attempt to make your own, until you sicken and die of them, still in silence?
It’s heavy—but there’s hope. As Lorde reminds us, “The transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation.” And it’s how we change systems—one voice at a time.
Building brave spaces—together
The Proud Pupils Conference showed us what’s possible: bold conversations, shared stories, and concrete action to make learning spaces safer and more affirming for LGBTQI+ youth—and all marginalized identities.
At dslx, we’re proud to be part of this global movement for inclusive education, alongside organizations like IGLYO, Amnesty International, and countless changemakers worldwide.
Our invitation to you? Join communities that prioritize belonging, brave storytelling, and education that reflects the richness of every learner’s experience.
Because when the lion learns to write—everyone’s story gets heard.
Recommended resources
We like to practice what we preach around here. So, in the spirit of sharing information, we’ve included a few recommended resources we thought you might find useful:
- Comedy writing course: Because sometimes the world feels heavy—and laughter is the best medicine. Humor has always been a tool for resilience, rebellion, and connection.
- Yoga for writers: Not exclusive to writers and extending beyond creatives behind the computer, our yoga for writers course is available on campus for those oh-so necessary stretch breaks to reconnect body and brain.
- The future of content marketing: Cat got your tongue or… AI got your job? Whether you crave a more human approach to marketing or just want to stay ahead of the bots, here’s a little insight on the world of words in 2025.
