Creating Safe Schools

In the second part of my interview with Coleman Todd, associate at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, in Cocoa Beach Florida, we continue to talk about the role religion, and specifically Christianity, plays in our society today.

We discuss Christianity and the LGBTQ community, and delve into the deeper issues of divisiveness that exist in our country right now.

#transgender #LGBTQ #bible #religion #Christianity #Unitarian #philosophy #allies #wesaygay #saygay

This podcast is part 1 of my interview with Coleman Todd, associate at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, in Cocoa Beach Florida.

I initially reached out to Coleman because I know a young transgender man who is being sent to conversion therapy by his parents, in the name of Christianity. I realized that it is important to speak with faith leaders and scholars about how different religous traditions view our LGBTQ community, and discuss the fact that many Christian denominations and other faith traditions are welcoming. ‘

I hope to help LGBTQ youth and adolescents realize that there are welcoming congregations of Christian faith.

In our conversation we also touch on other social issues, and the concept of caring for one another, and what that means in the lens of Christianity.

Hear more and read more about building an affirming society at CreatingSafeSchools.com

#Religion #MarriageEquality #LGBTQ #Christianity #Transgender #LGBTQallies

In this episode of my podcast, I share the second part of my conversation with my friend Jenelle, a transgender woman who speaks about being herself, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and the political climate in Florida.

#transgender #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQallies #saygay #woke

Hear more podcasts, and download guides to creating safe and welcoming school environments, at 

https://creatingsafeschools.com

In this podcast, we go back a bit in time. Hear Peregrine Hayward when she was a senior at Satellite High School in 2017, as one of the panel members of Space Coast Progressive Alliance’s Pride and Prejudice in Brevard panel discussion.

Peregrine talks about the ways in which school can be difficult when you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and the improvements she’s seen during her lifetime. Unfortunately, in many ways we appear to be regressing, but her hopeful message still resonates.

Find more content and a related blog at CreatingSafeSchools.com

In this podcast, I continue talking with GSA sponsor Chantelle Hansen about being an ally to LGBTQ+ students, about transgender advocacy, and about how we need to always be aware that not everyone has the privilege that we are afforded as straight, cis-gender white women.  

#saygay #LGBTQIA+ #LGBTQ #trans #transkids #transgender #LGBTQallies #school #teachers

Hear all my podcasts, read my blog, and view my content on how educators can make their schools safer and more affirming for their LGBTQ+ students at CreatingSafeSchools.com

In this podcast I interview a GSA sponsor in Nevada, who talks about the issues faced by her LGBTQ+ students at school and at home, and discusses the importance of a supportive environment and supportive influences. Chantelle also discusses the fallout one student faced when he was elected homecoming queen and brought out a Pride flag at the event. (Note, my Zoom audio had feedback, I apologize in advance.)

CreatingSafeSchools.com

#saygay #transgender #JeffreyMarsh #HomecomingQueen #LGBTQ

In this podcast, I cover a rally – a Pride rally, and there is *no* rally as much fun as a pride rally. I start by doing a few interviews with rally attendees as we wait for the rally to begin. Then I cover the various rally speakers – we have local LGBTQ+ activists, a LGBTQ+ student activist – Sebastian Cook, representatives from Equality Florida, PFLAG Melbourne, Space Coast Pride, Spektrum Health, and Families for Safe Schools.

Tina Jensen sings, and the awesome cast of We’re Here – Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley – spoke to the crowd before the march.

For more podcasts and information on this topic, visit creatingsafeschools.com

In an interview about the Don't Say Gay Law in Florida, and its repercussions, I was asked "What about parents' rights?" I thought a lot about the question after the interview. The answer I gave was accurate - parents' rights should incorporate all parents, not simply the parents who do not want LGBTQ issues discussed in school - and that would change the narrative. 

But my answer was incomplete. In this podcast I explore what rights students and parents have in school, and why the Don't Say Gay law is not actually about parents' rights to protect their children, but rather is their attempt to erase discussion of LGBTQ families, history, and risk factors (such as bullying).

Parents do not have the right to erase people. Every student has the right to be safe, affirmed, and respected at school. 

#saygay #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQallies #beanally #safeschools

In the second part of my interview with LGBTQ+ students Alex, a transgender male, Sienna, a pansexual female, and Jasmine, a bisexual female, we talk more about school culture and things educators can do to support their students, and the effects of the Covid pandemic and Florida’s new Don’t Say Gay law on the LGBTQ student population.

#transgender #pansexual #bisexual #saygay #school #education

Visit my website CreatingSafeSchools.com for more information on making schools safer and more affirming for their LGBTQ students - which make them safer for all students.

In this podcast, I speak with MK Strohman, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and uses the pronouns they/them.

MK is a school social worker in Pennsylvania, and an advocate for LGBTQ students - and for all students. Together we discuss things schools do that are, and are not, helpful in making their students feel safe and accepted.

Learn more about this topic at https://creatingsafeschools.com

In this podcast I remember my friend Charlie. Kind, funny, bold, and yet carrying the scars of a childhood beset with disapproval, Charlie taught me what it means to be fabulous. #lgbtqia #lgbtq #fabulous 

I miss you, Charlie.

In this podcast, I speak with Bells Ross, a 16-year old queer, asexual, and gender-fluid advocate. They talk about their journey, their school climate, and what the future holds.

Note, in a portion of audio that cut out, they said that they are not certain if the GSA re-naming was an administrative or an internal club decision. I will update here as that is known. I left the information in the podcast for students in GSAs that have been forcibly renamed.

This morning I couldn’t sleep. I was up, at 3:30 am, thinking about the students I’ve spoken with in my podcasts, thinking about how many adults – adults who are charged with keeping students safe – are letting those students down. These were my thoughts. 

In this episode, I speak with Nafeeza, a bisexual 9th grader who participated in two protests of Florida's Don't Say Gay bill - one of which she organized. Nafeeza bravely talks about bullying she has experienced, including being told to die, and the lack of response from her administration. We talk about creating GSAs (her school doesn't have one), and things that make school safer and more inclusive. I'll be helping Nafeeza as she works to bring a much-needed GSA to her school, Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Brevard, Florida.

In this episode of Creating Safe Schools, I interview high school seniors Hailey and Taylor about organizing their school's protest of Florida's new bill, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, HB 1557. We talk about the effect of the current climate on LGBTQ+ students in school, about their efforts toward acceptance, and about what school officials can do to make their schools safer and more affirming.

I'm speaking Andromeda, a non-binary adolescent who uses the pronouns they/them. We talk about growing up LGBTQ, support and lack of it, and students protesting Florida's Don't Say Gay Bill HB 1557, currently making its way to the desk of the governor. #wesaygay #saygay #LGBTQ+

In this episode, I'll be sharing some simple things teachers and administrators can do at school every day to be allies to their LGBTQ+ students.