The fight for safe and inclusive schools: What teachers and students want answered in the VP debate

Author: Melanie Willingham-Jaggers

As we look ahead to the vice presidential debate, I am reminded of the responsibility each of us has to create safe and supportive environments for all students—especially LGBTQ+ youth. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s history, a former GSA leader and teacher, underscores that leadership on these issues must start in our schools. But now, more than ever, this leadership must extend to the highest levels of government.”The ACLU has tracked 530 anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year alone, including those targeting curriculum censorship, school facilities, and the forced outing of LGBTQ+ students. How will your administration ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students while mitigating the harmful effects of these bills?”

Let’s use this debate as a chance to demand the change we need—for our students, for our future, and for our democracy.

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers is the executive director of GLSEN, an organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and to prompt LGBTQ+ cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools.

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Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Melanie Willingham-Jaggers