LGBTQIA+ people remain some of the most marginalized and targeted members of American society. According to the Human Rights Campaign, five transgender individuals have been murdered since the beginning of this year. Also, since January, 533 anti-transgender bills have been introduced across 41 states, 16 of which have passed and 430 of which are active in legislative houses.
Even though the majority of anti-trans and other anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation isn’t being passed in Massachusetts, the impact of anti-trans acts is felt by LGBTQIA+ students. After the death of Nex Benedict, an Indigenous, non-binary teenager who was assaulted in a school bathroom in Oklahoma, 60 students gathered on Cypress Field for a vigil. At the vigil, students expressed their feelings of grief and fear. In particular, many expressed concerns about access to gender-neutral bathrooms, an issue which The Cypress has investigated.
Two years ago, students walked out in protest of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” and other similar legislation introduced around the country, expressing fear and anger over the bills.
National events have a clear impact on the school community. We don’t live in a vacuum. The effects of hateful actions ripple outward and are felt by students, regardless of whether they take place in Oklahoma, Florida or anywhere else in the country.
Day of Dialogue was the first “Day Of” to occur at BHS according to the organizer of this year’s Day of Dialogue, Kathryn Leslie. It was inspired by the Day of Silence, a day that a lot of schools around the nation participate in, where students refuse to speak all day to bring attention to the silence that many LGBTQIA+ students feel concerning coming out and expressing themselves openly at school.
It is important to acknowledge that even within the LGBTQIA+ community, voices are under-represented. This day used to be dedicated to only gay and lesbian-identifying students, but it has since expanded to include students who fall under all parts of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. In addition, we have now shifted to recognize intersectionality and ensure that LGBTQIA+ people of color are represented. There is obviously still work to be done within our community, but the Day of Dialogue has helped our community move towards necessary change.
The Day of Dialogue is unique and important in that it provides students with a supportive environment to share personal experiences and beliefs that they might otherwise not feel safe or comfortable sharing. Additionally, it allows students to take nationwide events that may seem distant or irrelevant and draw them back into the school community. At the most recent Day of Dialogue, held on Wednesday, April 3, a number of speakers referenced the recent rise in anti-transgender legislation within the United States.
In addition to highlighting these topics, the Day of Dialogue is a place for LGBTQIA+ students to express joy and pride in themselves and their community. Aspects such as the pride festival, upbeat music and colorful decorations around the building all serve to provide joy. But they also serve as a reminder that these national tragedies affect us all, and we must all do our best to uplift and support the LGBTQIA+ community.
