Fearless Friday - Young People Making It Better
Fearless Friday explores gender. (Icon via garwlban)
Twelve years ago last night Matthew Shepard was attacked and left to die, for no other reason than that he was gay. The recent rash of teen suicides makes it all too clear that gay-bashing and homophobia are alive and well in this country.
While that is all too true, there are signs of progress, and that’s where I want to focus today.
This video by the Youth Pride Chorus is part of the It Gets Better Project. What sets this apart from others, is this is young people speaking to young people.
Click to viewThe beaming faces, the energy, the joy of the dance makes this video completely and utterly convincing. Those are things that cannot be faked.
If you were thinking that the teens in the Youth Pride Chorus were exceptional, because they live in New York City, think again. Because this week, there’s also a new message for teens: You don’t have to wait, you can make it better now. The Make It Better Project also accessible via Equality Events, features a video made by two LGBT teens from Indiana.
As G says, “by choosing to make my own life better, I’m making life better for other LGBT youth.
Sometimes, youth understands what maturity may not. This week, a North Dallas principal refused to allow a transgender girl to run for Homecoming Queen. The story is here. The students seem to be cool with the situation, as evidenced by Andy's nomination by them, which speaks well for the student body and school climate.
But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's the local news report:
I was struck by Andy’s understanding for the principal, her willingness to say that the principal has a problem because this is her (the principal’s) first year as in the position, so she’s inexperienced and scared about the opinions of others. That’s a high road I don’t know that I would have been capable of taking at her age.
Whatever the principal’s motive, she clearly has the same level of understanding as the school orchestra director near me who decided that musicians who were anatomical boys would wear tuxes, while musicians who were anatomical girls would wear formal gowns (I’ve mentioned this incident in past Fearless Friday posts). In these cases, its the adults who lack understanding and who need to be educated about the difference between anatomy, gender identity, and gender expression. It shouldn't be a difficult concept to grasp, but apparently it is.
It’s also worth noting that the district takes pride in the strength of its anti-harassment policy. That’s commendable. But it’s not enough. As I have said before, and will doubtless say again, we live in a country founded on the principle that we are all created equal. Until we are all treated equally, we are not living up to that principle.
Meanwhile, my hat's off to those young people who are fearlessly taking steps to assure that they are treated the way they should be.
