Blog # 7 Queering Our Schools & R.I Regulations on Transgender + Nonconforming Students

                                    Queering Our Schools

                                        Written by: Editors of Rethinking Schools

Author's Argument:  'How do we create classrooms and schools where each child, parent, and staff member's unique, beautiful self be appreciated and nurtured?'

This article starts of with explaining that on November 5, 2013, Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage.  It then goes on to describe a tragic event that occurred on that same day with a 16 year old girl riding the bus on her way to school.  This girl, Sasha is an agender youth.  Another student on the bus, lit the 16 year old's skirt on fire.  

As I read this, I couldn't imagine that a horrific act of violence towards a child could ever happen here, in the United States.  The reason for this malicious act was never identified in the article.  Did the other student (s) do this because they were so angry with the same-sex marriage law that was passed or were they angry at Sasha for being different, nonconforming to her gender?  

The town and school communities came together to support Sasha and raised money for medical expenses.  The junior who lit her on fire, was sentenced to 2 felony charges of hate crimes.  However, her family turned around and fought for this offender to be tried as a child which would lessen the prison sentence and severity at sentencing.  Sasha's father, an educator where they lived in Oakland, California spoke out about the need to educate children.  Karl states, " None of us can know the mind of the kid who lit a flame to Sasha's skirt.  But I have a feeling that if he had seen Sasha's skirt as an expression of another kid's unique beautiful self, and had smiled and thought "I hella love Oakland," I wouldn't be writing this now."

Teaching Point #1:

                               FACTS                                     

* 6 out of 10 LGBTQ teens feel unsafe in school

* 82% have been verbally harassed because of sexual orientation

* 49 states have passed legislation on 'anti-bullying';  however this legislation does not specifically identify the LGBTQ community

* 74% of Transgender youth report sexual harassment at school based on their gender identity and expression

* 25% of LGB students have been physically hurt by another student because of their sexual orientation 

* 55% of Transgender youth report physical attacks based on their gender identity and/or expression 

* 28% of LGBT youth drop out of school due to this harassment

* 25-40% of the youth who become homeless each year are LGBT, and the number is likely much higher. (Lambda Legal)

Article: How-to-support-LGBTQ Family and Friends: CLICK HERE

Teaching Point #2:   

The editors of Rethinking Schools write in this article Queering Our Schools, "There are reasons why teachers and administrators are reluctant to adopt school wide approaches that open up discussions of LGBTQ rights and homophobia."  School distracts worry about the backlash from parents.  I wonder how the parent would feel if the tables were turned and they were the ones feeling excluded and mistreated.  My middle daughter, Emma befriended an agender teenager who had just move to Rhode Island from the south.  My daughter was SHOKED how the other students in her high school treated her. This male identified as a she/her.  She was not valued or recognized.  I can remember Emma telling me how difficulty it was for the teen each and everyday both in class and in the hallways.  This teen eventually moved to another state but I'm sure this experience will stick with both of them forever. What people need to understand is that 'different people like different things.  Different people dress and behave or look differently.  And that is a good thing.'

Teaching Point #3:

The article mentions that in order to have safe, nurturing schools teachers and students need to step up. When they do, classroom discussions on this topic of change become more powerful.  When Jody Sokolower, came out to her 7th grade students, her administration accused her of talking about her 'sex life.'  I thought it was powerful that many elementary schools have created LGBTQ parent committees that go into schools to lead workshops on this topic.  Also equally important is the creation of a LGBTQ curriculum, a resource to use from kindergarten through middle school. I know we don't have this in my school district and would be very interested in learning more about this in the document, It's Elementary.

Finally, the article mentions the need for multicultural education moving beyond "heroes and holidays" to also integrate the LGBTQ issues and people.  This would be wonderful to see but as an educator with 7 years more of teaching, I don't foresee this happening in my own 2nd grade classroom.  The parents are very powerful in my district and I have too much to loose by being the 'pioneer' to start teaching this curriculum.  Hopefully, this movement will continue to grow and change in ideology and practices which eventually will include everyone, including the LGBTQ community!         

                                              

Rhode Island Schools/ Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students

                                                        June, 2016

~As I'm reading the Regulations from the state of Rhode Island, I'm wondering why the incident in California occurred in 2013 and this guidance for Rhode Island schools on transgender and gender nonconforming students was written in May 13, 2016?

~R.I. is committed to ensure safe and supportive learning environments for all Rhode Island youth.  Why is there not a LGBTQ curriculum developed for school departments throughout our state that is being used?

~In May 2001, R.I. became the 2nd state in the country to 'explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression.'  Based on the state laws throughout the United States, we still have a long way to go!

Nondiscrimination Advancement- CLICK HERE

*State law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (23 states , 1 territory + D.C.)

* State explicitly interprets existing prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity (see note) (8 states)

* State law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation only (1 state)

* No explicit prohibitions for discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state law (18 states, 4 territories)