*reposted from our friends at Rainbow Families MN*

Last night, over 200 parents turned out for an informational meeting about Welcoming Schools at Hale Elementary, a school in South Minneapolis. The LGBT inclusive K-5 resource guide, Welcoming Schools, helps elementary schools address family diversity, gender stereotypes, and name-calling through teacher training and lesson plans.

Minneapolis has been selected as one of three national sites for a pilot of the Welcoming Schools project, joining San Francisco and New Bedford, Massachusetts. The three potential Minneapolis pilot sites are Hale, Jefferson, and Parkview.

A vocal group of parents are opposed to the pilot project because it is LGBT inclusive and are actively mobilizing people to speak out against this curriculum. These parents have expressed their preference for schools not to teach their children about LGBT individuals. They also contend that such curriculum undermines their parental authority. Many straight allies and several LGBT parents are defending the importance of this project.

COLAGE joins our colleagues Rainbow Families in calling on our families and allies to have their voices heard as well.

Here are some steps you can take:

If you are a Hale, Jefferson, or Parkview parent, make sure your principal knows that you support this pilot project. Encourage friends at these schools to speak up as well.
Contact your area superintendent to let them know you support Welcoming Schools and explain why it is valuable for all families.

Continue to advocate for anti-bias and anti-bullying curriculum that is LGBT inclusive in your school.

For more information about Welcoming Schools and what you can do, contact Stephanie Hazen, Rainbow Families School Initiative Program Director by email or 612-823-5145.