LGBTQ allies call on Collier schools to change policies at GLSEN Ally Night
Annika HammerschlagCollier County Public School’s policies were in the spotlight Friday at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s annual ally night.
The network is a national nonprofit with 40 local chapters that aim to make schools a safe place for LGBTQ students. The network's Collier chapter was co-founded last year by CCPS psychologist Jana Csenger.
“This community is so conservative, it’s a little scary for people sometimes,” she said.
While Csenger appreciates that CCPS has included students of all sexual orientations in its anti-discrimination policies, she finds the district’s “case by case” policy for transgender students problematic.
“It does not provide consistency for our kids and it does not give guidance to our administrators,” she said.
CCPS should allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, she said, and faculty should be given the opportunity to participate in training sessions to help them address the needs of LGBTQ students.
GLSEN would offer that training free of charge, she said.
“The district will do what is comfortable and what they can do safely, and that’s OK,” she said. “But sometimes change needs a little push. And that’s why I started GLSEN.”
GLSEN co-chair Tom Jordan echoed Csengers concerns.
“It’s very unfair to the children that teachers aren’t trained to deal with their issues,” he said. “And it’s unfair to teachers to be expected to act appropriately when they aren’t trained to deal with these kids.”
One of these “kids” is Caitlin Crowley, the senior class president at Naples High. The Daily News recently interviewed Crowley, who identifies as a lesbian, after she tweeted a photo that went viral of herself kissing her girlfriend.
More:Naples High student goes viral after posting picture with girlfriend to Twitter
In a speech she gave at ally night, Crowley told the audience what life was like before she came out. As a closeted teen in Naples, she didn’t have anyone to look to for advice, she said, so she turned to Youtube coming out videos instead.
“There is no place lonelier than the closet,” she said.
Now that Crowley is openly gay and feels comfortable holding hands with her girlfriend in public, she feels a responsibility to help other LGBTQ youth address their insecurities. She also wants to encourage others to help in whatever capacity they can.
At the end of her speech, she called on LGBTQ allies to take a stand:
“Speak up for those who can’t speak out. Listen to the voices of the faint, and lead a life of love and pride.”