GLSEN sponsors a day o silence every year in support of all individuals who feel they must remain silent about their orientation/ gender identity due to bullying, harassment and discrimination. My school has not support for the LGBT+ community, though many students and teachers are part of this community. I'm a first year teacher just struggling day to day (low income, high violence, low performing and all the rest). I realized I had to do something when a student refused to go to "that lesbian bitches" classroom.
April 17th is the day of silence and I saw that as an opportunity. However, my principle met my proposal with a statement I was not ready for. "We don't want to be the school pushing the gay agenda." He props ed as day of tolerance instead for "you know, race and religion and then all the other things that go along with it" and I agreed to arange something because I didn't know how else to respond. His idea was "we can pick a color and have everyone wear that and sit with someone you don't normally sit with at lunch." I teach at a school where I litterally get contact high from walking past the student bathrooms and fights are like clockwork. I don't see that going so well.
What my school needs is awareness so that the students who harassed can feel validated and safe. Because I am a northerner in the south, I realize that there are fundamental differences in the area and the upbringing, but doesn't that mean as a school we should fight harder to assure the safety of these children?
I suppose I'm just looking for support and suggestions. What are my next steps? Do I go forward with a "tolerance day"? How can I establish an alliance community without administrative support? I'd also like to add, I love my job and enjoy every moment of working with my students, and would prefer not to get fired in the process.
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