Philosophy, Theory, and Foundations in Education

A photograph posted on Facebook by Nikos Giannopoulos, the Rhode Island 2016 Teacher of the Year, went viral on the Internet because he engaged in a very provocative pose, complete with black lace fan, while standing in the Oval Office of the White House with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. This paper, using the photograph and accompanying Facebook post as text, uses queer theorizing to explore how teachers may be intentionally provocative and subversive. The central question—Can you be queer in the age of Trump?—asks how one may engage in teaching that moves between and beyond traditional and expected pedagogical methods. Deep introspection and reflection on one’s teaching is encouraged.