STEM With Pride: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Innovators and Inspiring Inclusivity

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reflect on how we can foster more inclusive environments in every space, including STEM. From hidden pioneers of the past to bold innovators of today, LGBTQ+ individuals have always played an important role in shaping science, technology, engineering, and math. Yet, they’ve often done so while facing systemic barriers and invisibility.

This month (and every month), let’s uplift those contributions and talk about how educators, students, and families can build more welcoming, diverse STEM communities.

Trailblazers You Should Know

LGBTQ+ scientists, engineers, and inventors have made enormous contributions to the world of STEM. A few names to explore and celebrate with your students include:

Alan Turing

A brilliant mathematician who helped crack Nazi codes during WWII, widely considered the father of modern computer science.

Lynn Conway

A computer scientist and trans activist who revolutionized microchip design and continues to advocate for inclusive workplaces.

Angelica Ross

A tech entrepreneur and founder of TransTech Social, helping trans people gain access to careers in tech.

Encourage students to research these and other changemakers. What problems did they solve? What challenges did they face? What inspired their curiosity?

Why Representation in STEM Matters

When students don’t see themselves reflected in STEM careers, they’re less likely to pursue them. Creating inclusive environments helps every student feel safe to explore, ask questions, and imagine a future in science or engineering.

Educators can:

• Use inclusive language in the classroom
  
• Highlight diverse STEM role models regularly
  
• Incorporate Pride Month into science discussions (e.g., focus on rainbow optics, identity in data science, or LGBTQ+ environmental activists)
  

Hands-On STEM Activity: Code Your Pride Message

Celebrate Pride with a creative coding challenge using micro:bits or another programmable device! In this activity, students will use block-based coding to create a scrolling message or animation that celebrates Pride, like “Love is Love,” a waving rainbow, or their own custom positive message.

Encourage students to think about:

• What message do they want to share?
  
• How to use timing, loops, or icons to animate their design
  
• How coding can be a tool for expression and advocacy
  

LGBTQ+ voices make STEM stronger, smarter, and more innovative. This Pride Month, let’s celebrate those voices and commit to creating classrooms, labs, and makerspaces where every student feels seen and supported.

Contact Us

Looking for inclusive STEM lessons, tech tools, and educator tips? Contact us or explore our resource library to bring more diversity and pride into your STEM classroom!