We are proud to offer this special edition of EquityMatters! In celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
In this newsletter, we want to elevate the triumphs, challenges, and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). We also want to highlight that students who identify as LGBTQ+ face bullying at significantly higher rates than their peers. The consequences are heartbreaking.
For many of our students, The stories, videos, and resources in this guide will help all of us better understand the experiences and needs of our students, families, and colleagues so that we can create a safe and inclusive school district.
This guide is organized into five parts:
- What is it like to be an LGBTQ+ student in MCPS?
- Resources to better understand terms and suggestions for how to engage in the classroom
- LGBTQ+ Intersectionality: voices from Latino, Asian, Black, and Native Americans who identify as LGBTQ+.
- Pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history
- Partner organizations that support staff and LGBTQ+ students and families
Thank you,
Troy, Daryl, Deanna, Edvin, Ericka, Joan, John, Maniya, and Marya
What is it like to be an LGBTQ+ student in MCPS?
A Student’s Experience in MCPS
By Catherine Horowitz, 2018 graduate of Montgomery County Public Schools
“During my freshman year of high school, I had my first kiss, I had my first girlfriend, and I went to Pride for the first time. I was blossoming into my identity as a lesbian, and I loved every moment of it. I wanted to showcase who I was in every way possible.” Says 2018 MCPS graduate, Catherine Horowitz. “... But one of the things consistently holding me back from fully embracing my identity was my school environment....I never participated in even one class discussion of LGBT issues. I didn’t learn about historical figures and moments relating to my community. I didn’t read any books by LGBT authors. When I thought about this complete lack of inclusion, I would feel overwhelmed. I felt unwelcome, and, at times, I felt hated. A lot of this was in part due to the behavior of my peers...But an equal amount of my discomfort with my own identity was brought on by a lack of understanding from my teachers.”
A Conversation with MCPS Middle School Students
“I would like them to know that it is not just a phase, that we aren't too young to know, and that everyone should feel accepted no matter what,” says one non-binary Grade 7 student during an interview with Alison Lepard, World Languages and ESOL Resource Teacher at Westland Middle School.
Resources to better understand terms and suggestions for how to engage in the classroom
Many people refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity because it feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. Language around gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression can shift rapidly. But, educators need to understand this shift if we want to continue being connected and relevant to our students. Below are six wonderful resources that help us understand definitions, the use of pronouns, and MCPS policy throughout the school system.
As you review these resources please consider the extra challenges Distance Learning has placed on some LGBTQ+ students. This article from Edutopia says "Being separated from trusted peers and teachers can be particularly challenging for these students, but educators can take steps to help them feel cared for and safe."
Educate Yourself
- Guideline for Student Gender Identity in Montgomery County Public Schools -- this is a wonderful quick reference guide for definitions and policies for many different interactions in MCPS
- Definitions to Help Understand Gender and Sexual Orientation
- Let's Get it Right: Using Correct Pronouns and Names -- a great resource from the Anti-Defamation League that includes specific stratagies for inclusive engagement with students
- What Do You Say to ‘That’s So Gay’ & Other Anti-LGBTQ+ Comments?
- LGBTQ Youth Report -- a powerful report from the Human Rights Campaign capturing the experiences of LGBTQ youth that captures the examperiences of LGBTQ Youth in their family settings, schools, social circles and communities
- Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students During Distance Learning
- An LGBTQ+ Resource Guide For Youth & Families
- 10 Pride events you can attend from home, from underground Zoom parties to a virtual Pridemobile
- MCPS Compliance Office -- Contact this office to report any concerns about discrimination or to ask questions about non-compliance.
LGBTQ+ Intersectionality: voices from Latino, Asian, Black, and Native Americans who identify as LGBTQ+
The history of the LGBTQ+ community includes stories that intersect with other identities. Take a look below as we explore this intersectionality with racial and cultural identities. To learn more about the concept of intersectionality in general, click here for a short video.
Pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history
To understand current experiences, we need to know how we got here. First review the LGBTQ Historical Timeline. Then watch these two wonderful documentaries:
- How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement provides a moving overview of the LGBTQ Rights Movement
- S.T.A.R. chronicles the rise of the modern transgender rights movement through the activism of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera
Partner organizations that support staff and LGBTQ+ students and families
MCPS partners with many wonderful organizations that support LGBTQ students and families. Click the box for a list.
The May 2020 EquityMatters! edition has many great resources. Click here for the articles.
- Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First -- An insightful reflection from our colleague Daryl Howard
- Culturally Responsive Teaching During Distance Learning
- Cooking for Equity -- Recipes and Insights from the Equity Unit
- Two articles about bigotry and structural racism during the Coronavirus. One looks at the experiences of Asian Americans and the other explores disproportionate outcomes for African Americans.
- Dr. Joan's Gems
- Binge Watching for EquityTools
The MCPS Equity Initiatives has many more resources for all kinds of issues. Please visit our website http://bit.ly/mcpsEQUITY or call 240-740-4070.
Credits:
Created with an image by Jasmin Sessler - "untitled image"