Thread by @JeffRoushPoetry

A bit of local democracy in action to share. Last night I attended a school board meeting—something I don’t do often enough. The topics included a series of proposed policy changes, two of which in particular seem troubling. (Thread)
#ResistancePride
#LiveBlue

The proposals were put out to address changing federal and state definitions/interpretations of “sex” in Title VII and Title IX. Specifically, they were deleting the parenthetical that defines prohibited discrimination to include the bases of gender identity and sexuality.

The problem in a nutshell: Ohio is challenging the federal definition as applied to Title IX. But with the definition in flux, the board chose to eliminate the language in question—and leave LGBTQ students feeling unsupported, written off.

When I first read these, I was angry. It was late Tuesday night, and it had been a long couple of weeks. Seeing this woke me right up; I emailed the board members that night expressing my concern. I wasn’t sure yet whether I could be at the meeting, given a track meet that night.

But this is important to me. I have a trans daughter who graduated from that school last year, and a cis-het son who attends now. (Note: no grooming in either case; my kids are who they are.) How this district sees and treats its students matters to me.

I was able to watch both of my son’s races and still make it for the public comment portion of the meeting. And wow, did the public have comments. Teens, parents, grandparents, allies—all out to support the school district’s LGBTQ kids.

When it was my turn, around 11:40 at night, all the statistics had been covered, and so many brave kids and parents talked about their struggles in a world and school that doesn’t always support them. It was powerful and rich and deep.

So I talked about seeing. About recognizing when our vision of the world is obstructed, and being willing to move to see more. (A metaphor that arose after my late arrival.) I spoke about learning and recognizing my own limitations in knowing my daughter’s mind and experience.

And I talked about the need for leaders to not only support those under their care, but to show it, to be visible for those who need a reason to trust and believe. To not just oppose bullying, but to show the marginalized that you’re behind them.

The board had some discussion, and was close to tabling the anti-harassment policy change. They ultimately approved the policy change, much to the chagrin and anger of most of those present.

But, I see two glimmers of hope in the moment. One is that there is a companion discrimination/harassment policy the Board voted, in a unanimous motion and approval, to amend to expressly protect LGBTQ students. We need to see it—but it’s a small step forward again.

More importantly, I saw a big group of students out in force to participate and make their voices heard. They did not win the day, but even if they had, this was never going to be a one-night effort. This is a protracted battle for a right to exist openly.

These kids spoke out, some through tears and some through rage, but they spoke clearly. They spoke their minds and hearts. And they spoke with voices that are only going to grow into the future. For all the suppression and repression we see, this generation won’t shrink away.

This fight will continue locally, just as it is in so many places in this country. Whether you’re @ZoAndBehold, @brotherjones_, @Justinjpearson, or a high school kid in small-town Ohio, getting your voice shut down isn’t the end; it’s a beginning.

We have so many battles ahead of us: for the LGBTQ community, for women, for black and brown people, for the poor, for everyone being crammed into the margins today. Those margins are full, and are about to burst wide open. Stand up and speak where you are. Onward and forward.