Grace Bonneyのインスタグラム(designsponge) - 12月8日 05時26分

I've never written an op-ed before, but today I wrote one that was published in my hometown newspaper @virginianpilot (link above) about what it was like to grow up in a community and school system that did not outwardly support LGBTQ+ students.
The school system's first ever LGBTQ+ support/anti-bullying assembly was scheduled for this week (and approved over a month ago) and was canceled the day before under dubious circumstances (the ACLU is now looking into it). That alone was upsetting, but it was coupled with statements from a school board member-elect that called LGBTQ+ issues "inherently controversial" and "not appropriate for during school hours". It brought up some really painful memories from my middle and high school years that I've tried to work through. I started to think about how amazing it would have been to have had a supportive school when I was younger. We didn't have a GSA club or anything like that. Instead we had kids who called me a dyke and spread rumors. Some of those rumors were rooted in truth (I was confused about my sexuality and I was in love with my best friend), but before I'd had the chance to figure them out and talk to people on my own, they were being blasted, as an insult, on a regular basis.

It was painful to relive and write this, but it ultimately felt good to put this out into the world and let it go. Commenters under the op ed have called me a "pervert" and that I'm pushing a "dyke agenda" (those comments are now coming in via email, too) and I'm really thankful that 12 years of dealing with negativity online can finally come in handy. I feel fine to absorb that sort of hatred and bigotry, but I don't want the next generation of students in my hometown to deal with the same.

I sincerely hope this discussion can lead to greater dialogue in our community about what support truly looks and sounds like- and how to learn from each other when issues like this arise. If anyone is interested in reading, the link to the op-ed is in the profile link above. Photo from @hamptonroadspride taken by iambmwphotography.com

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