Honoring Pride Month
From Taylor Hickman, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia
Happy Pride Month! Quoting our June 2 Waldorf Weekly newsletter: "Celebrating diversity and identity expansiveness is an active task. As we commit to being an affirming and empathic space of understanding and celebration, we invite everyone to find ways to acknowledge and champion LGBTQIA+ narratives, past and present, this month and always!" Being in an actively inclusive community means acknowledging difference, welcoming curiosity, making space for uncertainty, and leaning into what we don't know (about ourselves and others) as a way to know more. Like countless other people and communities whose very existence is a mirror in the face of supremacy culture, LGBTQIA+ people are under attack in this current moment. Big wins remain big wins, and small gains remain paramount to systemic change. Yet being over the hump is a mirage until we all walk in a space of consistent safety and security.
With our youth in mind, we must not lose sight of the interpersonal and community shifts that are within our control. From language to space, books, media, and direct communication, where are the opportunities for affirmation? To quote the rising Eighth Graders, what does it mean to "not only accept...but to affirm?" Children are often those with the biggest and brightest mirrors shining back at our preconceived ideas. Viewing our children as our teachers in this moment is pivotal.
As we part ways for the summer, our students will continue to grow and our lives will continue to shift in all the directions human beings can go. It is hard to summarize the infinite gains that we made, individually and collectively, this past year. This is to say: there were many! What feels more tangible are the possibilities ahead. The end of a school year marks many things, both celebratory and nostalgic. Like all "endings," it is also an opportune time for new beginnings. This month (and every month) can be an opportunity to lean into what makes us want to know more, toward recognition that empathy and love are the only ways forward.