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How are we addressing/responding to the rise of anti-trans violence and sentiment within our school communities?Īlthough President Biden signed an executive order this past January that extended discrimination protections to include gender identity, the reality is that LGBTQ+ students are still two to three times more likely to be bullied or harassed compared to their cisgender peers.
REQUIRED TO WEAR GAY PRIDE SHIRT WINDOWS
Think about the overwhelming pride they would have in themselves if they knew about this history! Our classroom libraries must also include LGBTQ+ children’s books and literature that serve as windows and mirrors for Indigenous, Black and other students of color.
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Imagine how pivotal it would be for your young queer Black students to know that an openly gay man in the Civil Rights era was largely responsible for shaping the legacy of an American icon we honor every January. King’s legacy in our schools every year without putting respect on Bayard Rustin’s name? Even today, if I mentioned the name “Bayard Rustin" to ten random students, I’m certain that at least nine of them wouldn’t know who this man is. in school every January but never learned about Bayard Rustin until I became an adult. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera played in the Stonewall Uprisings, which ultimately gave birth to the annual Pride parades that we celebrate every June internationally.Īs a kid, I grew up celebrating the life of Dr. That means if we’re going to teach our students about the contributions of Harvey Milk and Gilbert Baker, then we must also highlight the prominent roles that activists Marsha P. Although this is a major step, we still need to do our part to decenter whiteness by exposing our students to the untold, hidden stories of influential LGBTQ+ figures of color. As I thought more about this issue, I came up with three central questions that we should all be asking ourselves to assess our engagement with LGBTQ+ issues:Īre we integrating the cultural, historical, and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color into our curriculum?Īccording to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network (GLSEN), five states have successfully passed legislation to include curricular standards focused on LGBTQ+ history. I’m sorry to break the news to you, but performative allyship isn’t going to cut it this year. It’s June, which means Pride Month is here! In a year where many elected officials and school districts are more determined than ever to center homophobia and preserve heteronormative policies within K-12 schools, more is required from all of us.