By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
With June fast approaching, it is almost time to start celebrating Pride Month. In partnership with SpeakOUT Boston, Westwood Public School (WPS) hosted their Pride Kickoff Event, enabling parents, caregivers, and faculty to engage in a conversation to foster understanding and inclusivity.
The representatives from SpeakOUT Boston included Steve Long, Jennifer Stephens, and Oscar de Tuya, led in discussion by District Director of Equity, Integration, and Community Partnerships, Lateefah Franck. Each table had a packet of words related to LGBTQIA+ identities to help people who may not have known them to become more familiar.
SpeakOUT is a non-profit organization made up of community members of LGBTQIA+ and allies to share their experiences and stories and raise understanding between people. Tonight was especially relevant to WPS because there were former educators on the panel. Steve Long shared his experiences as a teacher, and as a parent raising a transgender child. One of the goals is the de-normalization of using demeaning language relating to the queer community. His experience involved setting boundaries with students in his classroom, letting them know it wasn’t okay in front of him.
“I’m not calling you out because you did something wrong, I’m saying what you said hurt me,” Long recalled.
“If you set the tone, then they know what to expect.” Said de Tuya in agreement. As a school psychologist, de Tuya has had face-to-face experiences with how dehumanizing language on the basis of identity can affect students.
Jennifer Stephens discusses her experiences being a transgender woman educator. She has dealt with misgendering, disrespect, and a manner of experiences from coworkers, parents, and students alike. But she found that once she broke down those judgment barriers, students in particular were receptive to her and she could make more of an impact teaching.
Another discussion was on bathrooms. Gender neutral bathrooms have become more and more commonplace but still feature iconography of a male and female appearing on the sign. What about non-binary individuals? Stephens shares an anecdote of one time she went to a bathroom and it had a man, woman, and alien on the sign with words reading “Don’t care just wash your hands.” That is an attitude to strive for.
There was a prompt for the gathered people to discuss what actions they will take to make Westwood a better place. People asked questions, engaged in meaningful conversations, and even superintendent Timothy Piwowar and committee members were there, committing to make the school a better place.
One of the most important things you can do, which everyone stressed to parents, caregivers, and faculty alike, is to listen to the kids. Creating a safe space as students explore their place in the world and struggle with identity is one of the best things anyone can do. How they communicate and deal with any disrespect thrown their way can set a tone for the rest of their lives.
