Last week a 16-year-old student from Owasso Oklahoma died after being brutally assaulted in a bathroom at their high school. They were beaten by their peers at school, a place where they were supposed to be safe, protected, and taken care of.
While many of us would like to believe that our community is immune to this type of violence, it is naive to think that similar acts of hate could never happen here. Sadly, anti-trans rhetoric can be found in school board meetings across the state, where attitudes like the ones in Owasso are being repeated in debates over New Jersey school policy 5756 — a policy that provides crucial protections to LGBTQ+ students.
There are organizations here in New Jersey, such as the Center for Garden State Families, Moms for Liberty, and Parents Defending Education, who mislead the public with deceptive and legitimate sounding names while spouting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, calling for book bans, and forced outing of gender diverse students. These groups advocate for “parental rights” and “child safety” while at the same time spread lies and ostracize LGBTQ+ students, creating a hostile atmosphere where transgender youth, as well as their supporters, are made to feel unsafe.
These groups must be challenged, as their goal is to erode the protections that this state currently offers. We must remain vigilant and take explicit actions that endorse and celebrate gender-diverse experiences within our community.
Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and hate speech have devastating effects on youth, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. When young LGBTQ+ individuals are subjected to discriminatory language and attitudes, they experience feelings of shame, isolation, and worthlessness, exacerbating their vulnerability to mental health struggles. Such rhetoric reinforces societal stigma and rejection, making it difficult for them to seek support and acceptance. Consequently, this hostile environment significantly heightens the risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, highlighting the urgent need to combat this rhetoric and create affirming and supportive spaces for all young individuals to thrive.
I encourage everyone to speak out in favor of LGBTQ+ and trans-affirming policies at school board meetings. It is crucial to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric because such rhetoric perpetuates discrimination, marginalization, and violence. By challenging and condemning such harmful speech, we foster a culture of inclusivity, respect, and acceptance, promoting the well-being and rights of all members of the LGBTQ+ community, and especially for our children, who are the most vulnerable to hate speech. Speaking out sends a powerful message that discrimination in any form will not be tolerated, and it encourages others to stand up against injustice and support equality for all.
Teach your children about gender diversity and how to be an ally to their friends and peers. Neglecting to engage in these kinds of actions sends its own message, and implicitly sanctions the rise of harmful attitudes and biases. We must continuously address the systemic issues that contribute to the vulnerability of marginalized students, particularly LGBTQ+ youth.
I am grateful that the State of New Jersey has numerous protections in place for the LGBTQ+ and transgender community. These protections encompass a variety of areas, including employment, housing, healthcare, education, and hate crimes.
The tragic incident in Oklahoma serves as a stark reminder that no community is immune to violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender youth, even within the supposedly safe confines of our schools. The recent debates surrounding New Jersey's School Policy 5756 underscore the importance of remaining vigilant against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and organizations that seek to undermine the rights and protections of gender-diverse individuals. It is imperative that we challenge and counteract these harmful narratives. By actively supporting and celebrating the experiences of gender-diverse individuals and addressing the systemic issues that contribute to their vulnerability, we can work towards creating safer and more inclusive communities for all. Although New Jersey boasts numerous protections for the LGBTQ+ and transgender community, our ongoing commitment to advocacy and activism remains crucial in safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Additional information and support resources: Garden State Equality
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)