Reggie and I agree that reading the news, socializing, even listening to music sometimes push us to choose sides. But we remain optimistic. Gathering with family and friends, seeing individuals do good, and interacting with our students offer some of the strongest reminders of kindness’ potential. It’s the latter that was a major drive for why we started this project.
It’s for the student who after just a week of school came out to me as transgender and explained the burden of carrying two identities.
It’s for the student who thanked me for helping them feel comfortable in the International Baccalaureate program where very few classmates looked like her.
It’s for the student who asked for help writing a song because he had never written lyrics about himself because he was afraid what people would think if he was honest.
It’s for the students who asked me for feedback on their dance routine because others would think they were weird for performing a dance from another country.
It’s for the students who asked me to let them use my classroom to have meetings of the Gender-Sexuality Alliance. And the Anime Club. And Students Demand Action against Gun Violence. And Multicultural Club. And Creative Writing. And Dungeons and Dragons.
It’s for the students who asked for help planning a walkout to protest political inaction.
It’s for the students who asked me to accompany them to tell the principal they had been verbally assaulted for asking questions about being accepted into heaven while being queer.
It’s for the students who ask to eat lunch in my class every day because it’s where they feel safe and welcome and free to be themselves.
It’s for the students who never say a word, but know that they can if the need should arise.
It’s for my friend Reggie, and it’s for me, and it’s for you.
Just be cool.
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