Dear John,

This year has welcomed a new administration who has already proven they will fight to abolish discriminatory policies and provide non-discrimination protections that foster more affirming environments for the LGBTQ+ community — but we still have work to do.

Over the past couple of months, three unacceptable incidents in schools across the country made it painfully clear — our fight to ensure LGBTQ+ youth are treated with respect in safe and affirming school environments is far from over.

Footage emerged of GreTyrian Wright, a student from Alabama, being violently assaulted last year by the entire Lillie B Williamson High School football team for being gay. At the time, instead of suspending the team, the principal punished Wright. With this action, the school falsely claimed that his sexual identity was at fault for the disturbance, not the football team.

The bullying and lack of accountability didn’t stop there. In Kansas, 13-year-old Izzy Dieker’s school district banned her from riding the school bus when her bus driver wrote Izzy up for using “inappropriate language” after overhearing her tell other students, “I am a lesbian.” This ban resulted in Izzy losing her only way of getting to school — because she dared to share her truth.

The third incident occurred in Utah when a teacher read aloud “Call Me Max,” a K-3 book featuring a transgender child. After parents of students in the class complained, the district apologized, chastised the teacher, and suspended their “diversity book program” to make sure no other “inappropriate” materials reached their classrooms. This action not only eliminates LGBTQ+ affirming resources for students, but the entire school body is also suffering by not learning about race and racism — another goal of the diversity book program. At GLSEN, we know what every student needs to be successful: supportive educators, inclusive curriculum of every identity and background, and enumerated anti-bullying policies that help foster learning environments free from harassment and violence. Unfortunately, these three students experienced a failure of this necessary support — and it’s heartbreaking. 

These incidents are horrifying, but sadly not surprising. While the new administration is moving forward on a path to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, LGBTQ+ students and teachers still face discrimination and bullying — at times from the school districts themselves. These acts of systemic failure that resulted in: violence, blatant discrimination, and exclusion of diverse stories should outrage us all!

One way you can express your support is by making a gift to GLSEN today. Your generosity will help support GLSEN’s regional Chapters, including Alabama, Kansas, and Utah, who are working with school districts, administrators, educators, and parents nationwide to ensure that incidents like these do not happen again.

GLSEN has been in this fight since 1990. We have come too far to let acts of violence, discrimination, and exclusion like this continue in any community. Incidents such as these are a crucial reminder of why we do the work we do: to ensure our mutual goal — a world where LGBTQ+ students and educators alike can go to school feeling safe, affirmed, and welcomed — becomes a reality. 

Your gift today will help achieve this goal.

In solidarity, 
Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
she/they
Deputy Executive Director

 

GLSEN Inc.
110 William Street
30th Floor
New York, NY 10038
United States

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