Miami-Dade School Board has no right to tell queer students they don’t matter | Opinion

On Sept. 6, the Miami-Dade County School Board will vote, once again, on whether to recognize October as LGBTQ+ History Month. And, once again, some board members, such as Roberto Alonso, who represents my district, have decided that the history of people like me is not worth recognizing.

As a student, I never thought I’d have to run in circles to get what I deserve from my school district. Never did I think I would have to chase an adult for the things I need, let alone those who are responsible for protecting the education that I and thousands of others like me receive. Yet here we are again, groveling before the School Board to show that they care about us.

As a District 4 student, I can say that our board member does not represent people like me. He knows nothing about people like me. In the committee meeting on Aug. 30, Alonso said, “As I walk the school campuses and I see we are supportive of all students. … We have all the resources available.”

However, in my school, LGBTQ+ students do not think they are supported. They fear openly expressing their identities, are still met with harmful language and are harassed in ways as bizarre as being barked at during their lunch periods. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to discrimination when you’re not the one being discriminated against. It’s even easier when you’re the one doing the discriminating.

Students and parents alike are expected to trust the School Board not only to help provide students with a proper education, but also to make sure that our schools welcome and respect everyone. True support and allyship are demonstrated through actions, not through hollow words.

Queer people, who have gone through a long journey just to be treated with basic human decency — a journey we’re still on, clearly — are not to be pushed back into the closet. Last year’s vote rejecting recognizing October as LGBTQ+ History Month told queer kids in Miami that their existence is inappropriate, that their history is not deserving of recognition — and that they aren’t either. Observances like these show students that people like us have existed and thrived in this county — even the ones who got barked at during lunch.

I have seen other districts support their students this year by recognizing LGBTQ History Month. I wish I could trust Miami-Dade County Public Schools to do the same.

This item isn’t just a pretty piece of paper. It allows queer kids like me to feel welcomed in the spaces in which we spend so much of our childhoods. When you strip students of knowledge and history that we have every right to, you signal to us that we don’t matter.

Knowledge is power. Combined with actions, it’s a force to fear. Without knowledge, there is no action. Therefore, queer students remain powerless prey for the power-hungry.

Adrianna Gutierrez is a junior at American Senior High School in Hialeah.

This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 8:06 PM.