Demanding that the Chicago Public Schools immediately implement a grievance procedure for "students experiencing violence at the hands of the school system," protesters marched and chanted in front of the offices of CPS chief executive officer Ron Huberman on Tuesday, April 13. The action was part of the youth-led Safe and Affirming Education Campaign developed by Gender JUST ( Justice United for Society Transformation ) , a grassroots social justice organization.
Huberman and Renae Ogletree, CPS director of student development, first met with the activists on June 15, 2009 at the Gender JUST-sponsored Safe and Affirming Education Community Forum. At the forum, the two openly gay CPS administrators heard testimony from students about harassment, bullying and discriminatory behavior toward LGBT and NGC ( Non Gender Conforming ) students. Members of Gender JUST and several ally organizations presented demands that included: gender identity and expression be added to CPS's non-discrimination policy; creation of a district-wide accountability officer; additional training for teachers and other CPS employees on LGBT issues; and implementation of a student-developed grievance procedure [ WCT, June 17, 2009 ] .
Ahkia Daniels, a recent graduate of South Shore High School and lesbian member of GenderJUST, explained that the group is tired of waiting for the grievance procedure to be implemented. "We're just sick of CPS not cooperating with us," she said. "We were supposed to have a meeting with them and they canceled. So we said we've got to go stand outside. We've met with Huberman about three times. We talk to him and we talk to him, but we're a direct action group and we're sick of just talking about it. Our point person was Renae Ogletree, but she has been sick. We were promised a new point person, but it never happened. We are sick of walking around in circles."
"If you're harassed by a teacher you can report it, but how far will it go?" Daniels said. "We are trying to get a misconduct report for teachers and staff." She emphasized that the grievance process they are seeking is not only about LGBTQ issues of safety. "We want to make it safe for everybody." The grievance process would provide a protocol for students to file complaints against CPS employees and have the report tracked through to higher levels if necessary, until the complaint is resolved.
Activists at the rally included current CPS high school students and recent graduates as well as what Sam Finkelstein, youth organizer for Gender JUST, described as "adult allies." The rally began at 4 pm with a group of about 15 and swelled to close to 50 within an hour. The protestors, who represented every aspect of the diverse LGBT community, conducted a loud but orderly sidewalk march and then gathered for individual "testimonies" about the unsafe environment in the schools and the need for safe and affirming education for all students.
"I'm here because I'm tired of it not being okay to be me," said Skitlz, a genderqueer student at Clemente. "I get it all the time [ harassed ] in school because it's not taught. It's not educated that it's okay to be like this, that it's okay to just be yourself. If they did [ educate about gender identity and presentation ] there wouldn't be such a violence problem. A lot of people in the school system are taught this narrowness. Society teaches that you have to fit in a box. And most of us don't, as you can see."
"Personally I've never had anything happen to me at school, because I'm in touch with all these wonderful people who have voice, but unfortunately not everyone has voice and the reason we are hear today is to help everybody be heard," said Adrian, a gay man who recently graduated from Kelly High School and is planning on attending Harold Washington College in the fall. "If we want reform at CPS if we want that grievance process, let's hear it," leading the crowd in a chant.
Several other students and CPS alumni spoke including Kokumo, a transgender woman of color who sang a song and called for accountability in the schools.
"Even if it was just the 20 youth who are part of Gender JUST, we would consider this a success," said Finkelstein. "It's amazing that other organizations and other folks have come down here to support us. We're really happy about it."
During the rally a number of cars honked in support and quite a few passersby stopped to learn about the issues, accept literature and congratulate the students. Police officers were on duty; they ensured that the sidewalk remained accessible for pedestrians but did not otherwise interfere with the rally. Bill Greaves, Director/Community Liaison, Advisory Council on LGBT Issues of the Commission on Human Relations, was on hand to see that things went smoothly. No CPS representatives came out during the rally to speak with the students and the crowd disbursed shortly after 5 pm.