The Sage Informer

It’s the hope of every queer student that their school will be a safe space for students of all sexualities and gender identities. Does MHS fit the bill? 

Two openly queer students were interviewed and asked about their experiences at MHS. Concerning the issue of if she, as a queer student, felt safe at MHS, Egan Curry said, “I’d say safe but not comfortable.” Regarding ways it could improve and be more comfortable for fellow queer students, she then explained that, from her perspective the comfort was more an issue at an individual level, rather than at the school level. 

Fellow sophomore Maki VanVleet said, “There have been multiple times I have heard homophobic slurs in the hallways. I think we could control that a bit more.” 

The issue of hate speech and the use of slurs is a matter of individual choice. There will always be hateful people in the world, but schools can help remedy or counteract the hatred by providing education and setting an example for students.

When asked how teachers have helped with social acceptance or could help students in the future, both Curry and VanVleet pointed out the helpfulness of teachers asking for preferred pronouns. Curry stated, “Just small things like asking [for] pronouns or something, and then after they ask that, going on to use those pronouns that they asked for is nice. It’s refreshing.”

Both participants mentioned the following staff members as people that greatly helped them feel accepted at MHS: Mr. Crowhurst, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Malone, and Mrs. Shaw. All of these teachers have worked to help students feel accepted and have given them places and groups to feel safe in school.

Aurora Cooper, Staff Writer  

cooau27@sages.us