We still have far to go
Author Robin Stevenson recently expressed frustration regarding the cancellation of her visit scheduled for Oct. 2 at Longfellow Elementary School. Longfellow is part of Community School District 200, serving the Wheaton-Warrenville community where I earned my 13-year public education. Stevenson planned to discuss "Kid Activists," which highlights a number of important individuals, including Harvey Milk, one of America's first openly gay elected officials.
The abrupt cancellation of Stevenson's visit resulted in a lost opportunity for current students to receive an inclusive education that I did not. Graduating from Wheaton North High School in May 2018, there were few instances where I was exposed to curriculum that included LGBTQ+ individuals or a discussion of equality. I was made aware of events such as the Stonewall Riots only through advocacy groups such as the Human Rights Campaign, which sheds light on contemporary challenges of LGBTQ+ Americans.
A "community follow-up" published by the Director of Community Engagement & Communications on Nov. 7 states that "parents/guardians were not provided a sufficient opportunity to review the information and determine whether they wanted their child to participate in the program." The district superintendent also cited topics such as gender identity as "causing concern." The suggestion that the district should have given parents the opportunity to remove their children from a setting in which they were exposed to "concerning" LGBTQ+ curriculum reflects a deeply rooted issue of a community that still struggles to acknowledge the importance of cultivating an environment where all students are welcomed and actively supported.
Despite new Illinois legislation mandating LGBTQ+ curriculum in official textbooks, we have a long way to go before curriculum is representative of the history of all Americans. By rejecting Stevenson's visit, CUSD 200 has highlighted just how close to home this struggle for student equality still resides.
Grace Tulley
Winfield