When teaching in a diverse classroom, it is imperative to understand the various attitudes toward gender and sexuality of the countries from which the students hail. This is imperative because both components contribute significantly to an individual's identity, and also shapes how he or she views others and the world around them. For example, if a student is from a restrictive country where LGBT individuals are not accepted and premarital sex is considered sinful, then certain texts or media presented may seem offensive or even unholy since the United States is considered to be a more progressive country whose schools have access to more controversial materials. Furthermore, an LGBT student may feel ashamed and alienated by classmates from less accepting cultures. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an individual from a permissive culture may think that certain selections are odd, prudish, or find their classmates from more restrictive cultures to be closed-minded and less accepting. Therefore, as a teacher it is important to be sensitive to student's various beliefs and create a safe space where open dialogue can occur about these tough issues. It is important that these beliefs and varying attitudes toward gender and sexuality are not used to divide a class, but rather are used as lenses into other lifestyles and cultures.