LGBTQ is an acronym standing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. This is the most common abbreviation used in reference to this population. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2022, 7.1% of adults in America identify as LGBTQ. With constant discrimination targeted towards this population, typically by people who identify as “super-straight” – which is a group of people who are straight, but who also disagree with LGBTQ lifestyles, often resorting to targeted harassment and bullying of LGBTQ people. An underrepresented demographic, LGBTQ youth, are left to deal with the results of extreme hatred targeted towards themselves and LGBTQ adults.
With constant accusations of indoctrination being made against LGBTQ individuals, specifically concentrated in the delicate environment of our school system, LGBTQ youth often feel like they have nowhere to go. And that gets even worse if their families are not supportive of them being LGBTQ. The dream of equality is one that we are told to believe already exists – but it doesn’t. Many LGBTQ people, especially transgender and non-binary people, often face discriminatory attacks, some of which can turn physical.
You might be thinking – what does this have to do with Roxbury, or even New Jersey for that matter? And that’s an excellent question, the short answer is that it has a lot to do with our local community. The long answer is far more intricate. For starters, New Jersey introduced protections for LGBTQ students in schools in June 2023 – however, just a few short months later, Policy 5756, a Roxbury district policy protecting LGBTQ students from targeted H.I.B. (Harassment, intimidation, and bullying) was rescinded by the Roxbury School Board. a heavily controversial decision, protested by members of the PRISM Club at Roxbury High School, a registered GSA (gay-straight alliance) for its politicized nature and reckless removal from the district policy list.
This has led to continuous book bans, anti-LGBTQ policies, and more. A major proponent of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is the Twitter page “Libs of TikTok” – which has been tied to numerous violent acts and threats to schools, faculty, board members, and even students across the United States over the past few years. The owner of the page, right-wing personality Chaya Raichik, has repeatedly stated that she is not involved in what these people might decide to do – however, it is her rhetoric that has fueled much of this hatred against LGBTQ individuals, and that has also fueled many of the threats and violent acts committed by some of the page’s closest followers and supporters.
Moms of Liberty is another group, that often sits in at school board meetings across the country – even here in Roxbury. Many of the members of this group are also avid followers of the Libs of TikTok page among various pages that spew homophobic propaganda. They were even a huge part of the reason why our local Policy 5756 was revoked, protesting the policy and stating that men were allowed in women’s restrooms and vice versa. This is simply untrue – as the policy allowed for those who have already transitioned to do so, at the approval of the school district. And while this policy still was not perfect, the decision to revoke it entirely was very controversial – even leading to a preemptive walkout at Roxbury High School late last school year. Later that same day, the policy was removed from the district policies listed by the Board.
What is still confusing to many LGBTQ individuals and allies, specifically in Roxbury, is why they didn’t instead alter the existing policy – protecting the students from discriminatory H.I.B. while also ensuring that students were safe in the restrooms on campus.
I asked the advisor of the PRISM Club at Roxbury High School, Mrs. Speronza, to comment on her thoughts regarding the policy’s controversial repeal – along with her comments on the current situation for LGBTQ+ students in Roxbury. She said, “To the students in our LGBTQ community in Roxbury, I would like to remind you that you are still protected by New Jersey State Law and you are still cared about deeply by your school community, regardless of the decision of the Board to repeal Policy 5756. The law protects students – the policy informs teachers and staff about how to interpret the law. Having this policy repealed has not changed our day-to-day life here at Roxbury. Please remember that you have a safe space at school.”
Overall, the Board has remained adamant that they will not re-introduce Policy 5756, and that they also will not make any new policy ensuring the basic protection of LGBTQ+ students. Currently in Roxbury, the only thing protecting LGBTQ+ students from targeted discrimination is the state law passed in June 2023 – no local protections, and no federal protections either. While the Equality Act was proposed years ago to the United States Congress, a select portion of Congressional Republicans blocked the bill from even making it past the House and onto the Senate floor.
