Texas Math Teacher's Viral 'Gay' Lesson Earns 420K Likes

Christian Shearhod stands in front of his middle school students with a rainbow flag on his desk and a simple question projected behind him: "Is it gay?"

"This is gay, that is gay! Everything is gay!" he shouts to the class. "I hear it all day. But do y'all know what it means?"

What follows is a brilliant lesson in both vocabulary and kindness. Mr. S., as his students call him, walks them through a series of questions. Is painting your nails gay? Wearing pink? Liking Barbie or My Little Pony?

To each one, the students shout back a resounding "Noooo!" They've learned that none of those things define sexual orientation.

Then he gets to the real definition. Boys who like boys? Girls who like girls? The students cheer "Yeeeeeeah!" They understand the difference between stereotypes and reality.

Shearhod, who teaches math during regular school hours, hosts this LGBTQ club during lunch. The viral clip has racked up over 420,000 likes on Instagram alone, with nearly 16,000 supportive comments.

One commenter wrote, "I'm gay and I approve of this message and wish our daughter could be in your class." Another called it "saving humanity one classroom at a time," earning over 5,000 hearts.

The teacher's passion for this work is deeply personal. His wife is transgender, and he grew up watching LGBTQ students suffer in Texas schools. "I'm sad I didn't stand up and speak out then," he told Upworthy. "So now I teach kindness, in hopes that this next generation will be a bit kinder and more understanding."

What's particularly heartwarming is who shows up to these lunch meetings. Most of the kids aren't LGBTQ themselves. They're there because they have friends and family who are, and they want to be better allies.

Why This Inspires

Shearhod's approach works because he meets kids where they are. He doesn't lecture or shame them for using language incorrectly. Instead, he creates a fun, energetic space where they can learn the difference between harmful slurs and accurate terms.

His message is simple but powerful: being gay is okay, and it's beautiful. In a state where LGBTQ rights remain contested, this kind of everyday advocacy matters. One classroom at a time, he's reshaping how young people think about identity and respect.

The teacher says he's inspired daily by small acts of kindness, and clearly, he's creating plenty of his own.