Thursday, June 2, 2022 Volume 16 Issue 33
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month
The month of June is recognized as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) Pride month in recognition of the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Celebrations around the country include Pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops and concerts. The purpose of this commemoration is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on our history. The Seattle School district recognizes Pride month, too! This week, board members, district leaders, family, staff and students had a flag raising in front of the John Stanford Center to raise the rainbow and transgender pride flags and hear from student and staff speakers. Additionally, on Sunday, June 26, the district will participate in the annual Seattle Pride parade. Families are welcome to join in! The parade starts at 11 AM and you can meet at the staging area on 4th Avenue prior to the start time.
Thurgood Marshall Elementary recognizes Pride month, too! We will also have a rainbow flag flying over our building this month. Our students are making Pride posters and will be participating in Spirit Days to celebrate Pride month. Additionally, our students will all have a lesson in their classes about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to office in California.
At next week’s assembly, we will include videos from students, staff, and families talking about what LGBTQ+ Pride means to them. If you would like to include a video, please email your video to bedamitio@seattleschools.org .
Here are some prompts to get you started:
Why I’m proud of my LGBTQ+ family member?
Words of support/encouragement for those in the LGBTQ+ community
During LGBTQ+ pride month, how do you/your family show pride?
What LGBTQ+ pride month means to you?
I sometimes get asked by parents why we talk about Pride month and why we have lessons about gender diversity in elementary school. At Thurgood Marshall and many elementary schools within our district, we have students who identify as gay or transgender (This is when a person may be assigned one gender at birth, but later identifies as another gender. For example, a child may be born biologically male, but knows in her heart and mind that she is actually female.) When a person decides to publicly make the transition to live as the gender with which they identify, it can sometimes feel confusing to others. When any student challenges the stereotypes for their gender, it may raise questions for children. We also have many LGBTQ+ families raising children that attend our school.
We are working hard at our school to create a climate where everyone can feel they belong. In our classrooms, teachers regularly talk to their students about how we can support and celebrate the differences in our school. School is a place where children are taught to respect one another, be kind, and to learn to work together regardless of their differences. Creating a more tolerant, inclusive, accepting school environment teaches our students to recognize and resist stereotypes. We teach children to be upstanders – not bystanders - when they see bullying occur. Learning about all types of diversity is part of this work.
Teachers in our district receive training and support from Seattle Schools in talking about gender diversity and LBGTQ+ in a way that supports all kids and families. The district is introduced supplementary classroom materials on age-appropriate concepts of gender and gender identity to elementary schools. The K-5 Gender Book kit contains at least one book and corresponding lesson per grade level. These books and lesson were developed by community members, parents and educators in response to the state’s adoption of new Health Education standards. These standards introduce concepts such as gender, gender roles, gender expression and gender identity at the elementary school level.
You can help support your student at home by answering questions they may have and by encouraging open dialogue about your family values and beliefs as well as reinforcing messages they will receive at school which focus on respect and kindness, being inclusive and resisting and reporting bullying.
As families, you may find it helpful to seek resources and information for yourselves and for your kids. Below are a few online resources you may find helpful. Thank you for being engaged families who care deeply about the safety and well-being of all our students.
Bullpup Published in The Week Junior
One of our Bullpups, Jo Chick, was published in the June 3, 2022, issue of The Week Junior. Jo is a 5th grader at TM. As a member of The Week Junior’s Junior Council, Jo wrote a piece called “Ask About Pronouns” on Page 24.
ATTENTION: 4th Grade Families We Need Your Help
Please sign up to help with the 5th grade "promotion" celebration on Tuesday, June 14
We are still in need of 4th grade parent volunteers to help with set-up (1:30-3:25pm) and/or take down (5:00 - 7:30pm) for the 5th grade promotion on Tuesday, June 14. Help send our 5th grade bullpups off to middle school in style! Think of your help as paying it forward! See this sign-up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0448AAAF2BA3F85-thurgood
