Educators Who Remain In Red States Are Doing God’s Work

Educators and others who remain in red states despite increased hostility from those in state government deserve all the respect in the world.

Recently, a friend of mine to speak at the University of Central Arkansas. The topic was up to me, but I chose to talk about what it was like growing up queer in a place like West Virginia, right smack dab in the middle of Appalachia. Though there are many differences between West Virginia and Arkansas, obviously, there are also some surprising similarities — particularly since the latter is home to the Ozarks, a region much like Appalachia in terms of both geography and culture — and I thought my talk might resonate with some of the queer youth that attend UCA. Indeed, to my delight my talk was very well-received by the student attendees, and I could tell from the tenor and type of their questions that my own story was similar to theirs, for better and for worse. Throughout the entire time I was there, my friend was a perfect host, ensuring that I was never in want of anything, even as she also contended with all of the daily realities of a life in academia.

My friend, Taine Duncan, is an associate professor of philosophy, but she’s so much more than that. She’s a fierce advocate for her…