This I Believe

Jamie Steckelberg
Aug 22, 2017 · 4 min read

The Need for Safe Spaces

“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.” –Harvey Milk

At my daughter’s school, the fourth and fifth graders were asked to teach the younger students how to talk about gender identity and expression, as part of an all wide school commitment to learn about gender equality and equity issues. Over the course of several months, students learned about this topic by watching the documentary “Gender Revolution, ” reading books like Interstellar Cinderella, by Deborah Underwood, among others. Questions were asked and a discussion ensued. The students took a field trip to many local businesses to ascertain how many had welcoming gender non-conforming and/or transgender bathrooms. One student read the book All I Want To Be Is Me by Phyllis Rothblatt to a classroom of youth. One student asked, “How do you want to be referred to?” With hands raised, little, squeaky voices expressed that they can be referred to as “he, she, or they” with respect. I saw these kids accepting each other, which was exactly what was hoped for. I marveled at the authentic community in the classroom.

In my youth there were not books like Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, or I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel. I didn’t have the good fortune to read Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden, Luna, by Julie Anne Peters, or George by Alex Gino. In college, I was told what to read the canon of “dead white men’s literature.” When I expressed my interpretation, I was corrected. While I genuinely love all literature, it wasn’t until I was out of college before I discovered the literature that resonated with my identity: Rita Mae Brown’s Rubyfruit Jungle, Jeanette Winterston’s Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, and the poetry of Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde.

All students need to feel safe and respected within the classroom. Once students feel safe, they will allow more of their voice to develop both in speech and writing. Students need to read literature that offers them a glimpse into their own and other’s lives. I believe that it is through reading the literature of others that we may begin to empathize and to practice kindness in the world. I believe that by reading a well-guided curriculum, perhaps chosen by the American Library Association, of stories with diversity as their theme, we may not be as apt to “otherize” people and, consequently, marginalize them. We need to allow and to lift up the voices of those marginalized, lost, disenfranchised, broken-hearted writers that speak to the truth about their lives.

We need to continue to show kids that their voices, their identities are depicted within literature, literature that affirms and validates all people. Too often, however, children are bullied for their sexuality, gender non-conforming ways, or difference. Those same kids, who were bullied, grow into adults who may remain silent and feel marginalized, Some, unfortunately, are ostracized by their families upon coming out, commit suicide, or are murdered by those who are threatened by difference.

As teachers, we may be required to teach “Romeo and Juliet” instead of “Brokeback Mountain.” There is some sort of a connection between the lack of diversity in literature and the marginalization of people whose voices are not heard, whose identities and voices are silenced. When we allow students to discuss issues honestly, we build a path for openness, trust, and vulnerability, a safe place where all voices can be heard and respected.

This generation is exploring gender identity and expression. Therefore, we need to allow for literature that speaks to their evolving identity. We need to support students in their journey of becoming.

When we educate students in safe spaces, we encourage them to share their learning, experiences, and truth with others. I had a mother who enrolled in my gay and lesbian literature online to offer more emotional support to her daughter who identified as lesbian. As we read about Stonewall, she took her daughter to visit Stonewall. When we watched the movie “Milk,” she planned a trip to San Francisco. She examined her own prejudices as a teen and young adult. As her daughter transitioned to a man, she advocated for his rights. She is now educating others by taking part in the New York City marathon for the Human Rights Campaign. As a nurse supervisor, she also regularly trains others in the health field how to interact with others who identify as LGBTQ. This is an example of the student employing intersectionality in a public way to educate others to benefit the LGBTQ community.

We must stand firm when schools or parents attempt to ban a controversial book. We need to own our spaces, to lift up the voices of our students, to create a refuge in which students read literature that affirms their world, to encourage them to write those stories that have not yet been written. There are so many terms about new gender identity and expression that we need to create a bold, new literature that reflects the vastness of our students’ experience. Once we have created these safe spaces, we allow for a world in which students may practice intersectionality by educating others in a public way, completing service learning, and genuinely making connections with people to bridge those gaps.

GMWP: Greater Madison Writing Project

Teacher as Artist, Teacher as Researcher, Teacher as Writer, Teacher as Teacher of Writing

)

Jamie Steckelberg

Written by

Poet, Seeker, Teacher

GMWP: Greater Madison Writing Project

Teacher as Artist, Teacher as Researcher, Teacher as Writer, Teacher as Teacher of Writing

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade