Catholic Schools and LGBTQ Students: What Educators Are Actually Doing with Jonathon Sawyer

What happens when LGBTQ students navigate faith, identity, and education inside religious schools?

In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright talks with Jonathan Sawyer, a PhD in education policy from the University of Colorado Boulder, about his research on LGBTQ students in Catholic schools. His dissertation explores how educators support these students while working within a traditionally conservative religious framework.

The conversation looks at what these schools actually feel like for students, how experiences vary by region and leadership, and how some teachers lean on principles like dignity and care rather than directly challenging doctrine.

They also dig into bigger questions around school vouchers, public funding, and how religious freedom intersects with non-discrimination laws. Sawyer shares his own background in conservative Christian spaces and connects it to broader issues of faith-based harm and student well-being.

The episode adds context to a topic often reduced to politics, focusing instead on how students and educators navigate faith, identity, and belonging in real time.

Read the dissertation

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-Website: jonsawyer.org

Guest Bio

Jonathan Sawyer recently earned his PhD in education policy from the University of Colorado Boulder, where his research focuses on the intersection of religion, law, and LGBTQ student experiences in K-12 schools. His work examines First Amendment issues, school voucher policies, and the impact of religious education on marginalized students. His dissertation explores how Catholic educators support LGBTQ students within a conservative doctrinal framework using an ethics of care approach.