Unlocking STEM Pathways: Revealing STEM Choices and Science Teachers Empowering Black Queer Students

Despite efforts to address racial disparities in STEM fields, little attention has been paid to the experiences and aspirations of queer and trans Black (QT Black) students in grades K-12. This study explored whether there were any significant differences in the choice of STEM majors between QT Black students and non-QT Black students. We found that Black QT students are less likely to choose STEM majors. Additionally, we found significant differences in science teachers’ perceptions of teaching, comparing between QT Black and non-QT Black students. Finally, we found that several factors predicted science-teacher perception of collective responsibility, perceptions of content professional learning community (PLC), self-efficacy, perception of content teacher expectations, and perceptions of principal support for teachers of QT Black and non-QT Black students. Implications for research and practice are discussed.