LGBTQ+ inclusion at H-F has come a long way.
More and more around the country, we see the rights of LGBTQ+ students taken away. In fact, as of Feb. 24, 2022, Florida Governor Ron Destatis banned LGBTQ+ education, marking it as “something not appropriate for any place, but especially not in Florida.”
Across the country, LGBTQ+ students are being restricted, but H-F is keeping these students in mind.
From the gender sexuality alliance (GSA) to annual events such as pronoun pin giveaways thrown throughout the year, H-F is continuing to find ways to include ways for LGBTQ+ students to be recognized at school. The most obvious change since the beginning of the school year is the rebranding of the former GSA to Alphabet Soup.
According to social worker and helping hand in gender/sexuality at H-F Danielle Van-Vliet, her goal is to “pull back the stigma of calling kids by letters” and “make sure students of any gender, sexuality, or ethnicity feel safe.”
The rebrand is allowing students to find their identity rather than just staying under concrete labels, making a safe space for those who may be undecided while also casting a wider net for anyone looking for a community to be themself. The popularity of Alphabet Soup has sent shock waves of change throughout the school. “This is when we started looking at bathroom and locker room changes,” Van-Vliet stated.
The gender-neutral locker rooms have benefited many people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum by giving them a space to change their clothes without judgment or embarrassment. As H-F grows its grounds with the Science wing, there will be more opportunities for the school to provide safe queer inclusive spaces for students.
Another major LGBTQ+ inclusion innovation at H-F is the gender service plans set up to support trans students specifically. A gender service plan, according to Vliet, is “for students that are considering a different gender…they are (for students who) are gender fluid, gender queer whatever they feel at that time.” According to Van-Vliet, “It helps give them a person to talk to, to help change names and pronouns.”
She also noted the ability to get new IDs, and even have your preferred name on your diploma with a parent’s consent.
H-F, however, has a long way to go on the road towards complete LGBTQ+ inclusion.
There are efforts among staff to provide LGBTQ+ awareness training for staff and students.
Two teachers, English teacher Amie Day and English and theater teacher J.R Willard-Rose, are working towards crafting a LGBTQ+ Studies course for students to learn about LGBTQ+ lives, literature and perspectives in contemporary society.
“LBGTQ+ lives, culture, accomplishments and literature should be woven into course curricula at every grade level,” Day said. “We know that representation matters in the classroom. All students should be able to see themselves in the work they do and the literature they read.”
Day sees the new course as a way to broaden students’ perspectives and enrich their academic life.
According to Rose, the course would provide the opportunity for LGBTQ+ students to meet the general education needs of an English classroom, while providing role models and support for all students.
Additionally, to improve quality of student life, improved staff training is necessary.
”Training for staff should include professional development on how to safely, respectfully, and appropriately work and communicate with LGBTQ+ students,” Day said.
According to the Legal Frameworks DataBase, 64 countries have laws criminalizing homosexuality. It’s fair to say LGBTQ+ youth struggle with backlash in seemingly every corner of the world. Although H-F isn’t perfect, the steps being made to support our LGBTQ+ students allow for the foundation of hope through the promise of change.
