On March 13, the Arlington High School Discourse Lab was the location for a Community Conversation hosted by the APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Task Force in partnership with the Arlington LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission and the Arlington Human Rights Commission. The event focused on, in the words of Gibbs and Ottoson Middle School Librarian Jennifer Lauchlan, “...the amazing resources currently available in school and public libraries for and by LGBTQIA+ individuals and the backlash to such resources that is occurring throughout the US and around the world.”
APS Assistant Superintendent Dr. Roderick MacNeal, Jr., co-chair of the APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Task Force, set the stage for the panel discussion that was to follow by reminding the attendees of the APS Vision, which is “...to be an equitable educational community where all learners feel a sense of belonging, experience growth and joy, and are empowered to shape their own futures and contribute to a better world.” He shared how the APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Task Force, which includes educators, administrators, students, parents/caregivers, and community members, plays an important role in helping to achieve this vision with its mission and work to promote and support continued awareness, empathy, access, safety, inclusion, and belonging for LGBTQIA+ students, families, caregivers, and staff.
After a presentation of gender language and terms delivered by the student Co-President of the AHS Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Robbins Library Adult Services Librarian Julia Starkey and Ms. Lauchlan, both Task Force members, took the floor for a conversation facilitated by APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Task Force Co-chair and Rainbow Commissioner Molly Blaauw Gillis. The discussion and presentation included information about the state of book censorship today, and the important role that libraries can play in making certain that young people have access to books that offer “windows, mirrors, and doors”, a philosophy created by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop of Ohio State University. Dr. Bishop believes that everyone needs access to a variety of types of literature books that reflect their own experiences and identity (mirrors), that allow them to see others’ experiences and worldview (windows), and those which allow the reader to “step into '' another world (doors).
The two panelists shared how both the Robbins Library and all the district school libraries have added a wide variety of materials to their collections in order to achieve this, both proactively and in response to student, teacher, and family/caregiver requests. This effort has been strongly supported by the Town and the School Committee. It has included hiring certified school librarians and providing funding for collection development to support a review and update of the collections in the elementary and middle schools. As a result, the collections now include many books with LGBTQIA+ representation and information.
During the question and answer period, it was clear that some audience members felt that Arlington and the state of Massachusetts were safe from book censorship. This provided the opportunity for other attendees, as well as Ms. Lauchlan and Ms. Starkey, to stress the need to avoid complacency. They emphasized the importance of being “...vocal in our opposition to censorship, disinformation, and silencing as well as being active in our support of diversity and inclusivity.”
The Community Conversations series is ongoing and the next session will focus on parent and caregiver resources. The first annual APS district-wide Pride Celebration will be held on May 13th at Arlington High School. The event is being hosted by the APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Task Force, the elementary Rainbow Alliances, the middle school QSAs, and the high school GSA for students, caregivers/families, staff and administrators, and community members to gather and participate in activities and fun.