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NEWS
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
the Stagg Line
04.13.18
Growing up in shadows Transgender students often shelter identity due to fear of public judgment from peers HannahWorkman
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A classmate once said transgender people mutate themselves and are mentally ill.”
A senior
Years of life spent in the shadows, they hide their true identity. They hold the secret close to them, all in an effort to protect their safety. For transgender youth, this is the reality of their lives, including that of a senior, who wishes to remain anonymous. Assigned female at birth and now identifying as male, the student never felt comfortable in his own skin. During his sophomore year of high school, he realized he wasn’t born in the right body. Before arriving at that conclusion, he had been questioning his identity for quite some time. “I knew the thoughts and feelings I was having meant something,” he said. Deciphering what exactly those feelings meant was the difficult part. He struggled to navigate his way through uncharted territory. “Nobody else around me is transgender and I’ve never been taught about what it means,” the student said. Because of this, he decided to turn to the internet. “It was my only resource,” he said. Days were spent scrolling through message boards, attempting to
Spirit of activism lifts up campus AngelVasquez
During these times of mass shootings and cries of oppression PHOTO BY JULIAROSETE and injustice, many students have begun to rise up and take a As hundreds of students gathered on the track during stand fighting for what they be- National Walkout Day on March 14, members of Leadership lieve is right. Students have been presented 17 reasons why protesting against gun violence is taking action by participating in valuable. Junior Marissa Pimentel and senior Moses Richwalkouts, engaging in online dis- ardson present two of the 17 reasons. together to stand in unity for immigrants, children, course, and encouraging other stuyouth, women, families, LGBTQ and vulnerable dents to make a change in their communities. Important topics like Deferred Action for Child- communities. hood Arrivals, issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ For senior Salvador Rivera, it’s hard to pin down community, and local problems in the community what he’s most passionate about. Recently, though, have inspired students to advocate for these issues he has begun to attend board meetings pertaining to the theater needing to be repaired. Rivera is in choir they’re passionate about. After DACA was revoked in 2017, junior Vir- and has always been disappointed with the theatre’s gina Pina felt as if her “eyes were opened” to the condition. Rivera has been to marches and school issues going on in the world. “It’s not like I wasn’t board meetings. He says that to be an activist you aware about what was going on (before the 2017 have to go out and take action. announcement), but it just didn’t really move me,” “People who identify as activists and don’t do anything aren’t really activists,” he said. “If you say Pina said. Pina added that since some of the people you’re an activist, you should be doing as much as she knew and was close with were involved with you can.” It’s not only Rivera who thinks like this, but DACA, she had to show support for them. Pina attended Equity on the Mall with her also senior Vanessa Quinones said that everything classmates on Feb. 8. Pina says she felt enlight- counts. “I haven’t really attended a lot of rallies and ened after attending the meeting, and has begun to stuff like that, but I do try to repost as much as branch out about more topics. Equity on the Mall possible on Twitter,” Quinones said. “Activism is all is a rally in which valley residents and leaders come about standing up for what you think is right.”
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make sense of what he was thinking and feeling. Reading other people’s stories brought him clarity, they helped lead him down his own path of discovery. As if coming to terms with himself wasn’t hard enough, he still faces the challenge of coming out to others. Fearing judgment from his peers, he has not revealed his secret to many people besides close friends, several of whom are in the LGBT community. “Whether you’re out or not, you hear a lot of things,” he said. “People are outwardly transphobic, even though they may not realize it.” Such transphobic statements are often heard in the classroom. “A classmate once said transgender people mutate themselves and are mentally ill,” he said. Incidents like this occur on a regular basis. Another classmate, who was in the room when these comments were made, can attest to this. “I’m sure our teacher has heard, but he hasn’t addressed it,” she said. While hearing negative remarks is upsetting, he does not put the blame fully on the individual, believing instead they are simply a product of their en-
vironment. “Sometimes it’s not their fault,” he said. “Sometimes it has to do with society and social norms.” To those who may have fallen into the trap, he urges they at least inform themselves on the effect their actions and words can have. “You’re just going to stay ignorant if you don’t try to learn,” he said. “If somebody who is a part of the community is telling you something’s wrong with what you’re doing or saying, listen to them.” Although dealing with judgement from peers can be tough, it is not the only issue transgender students must face. In February, the U.S. Department of Education made the decision to put an end to its investigation regarding complaints from individuals who are not able to use the bathroom matching their gender identity. During the course of her career, Assistant Principal Kathryn Byers has had plenty of experience dealing with transgender students, who are said to have her full support. As an advocate for these individuals, she feels that everybody should have the right to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. However, she
does acknowledge the concerns others may have. “The biggest thing we always hear as adults is rape,” she said, recalling her time at board meetings and the questions that were asked. “You’re going to allow a man to go into a female’s restroom?” Byers makes note of the statistics that show there has been no increase in rape or sexual assault cases due to nondiscrimination laws. “I think the transgender population wants to protect themselves more,” she said. “They’ll often choose to go to a secluded restroom or they’ll choose to go to a safe area for them.” While a transgender student she has seen grown up is open about their journey, she knows each individual’s situation is not the same. “We may have students who are not that self-confident,” Byers said. “This could be because they’re worried about being bullied, ganged up on, jumped or hurt.” She feels that because everybody’s story is different, it is crucial for students to hear others’, but they “also have to be willing to share theirs.”
Disability laws create inclusive environment SamanthaBaker & StephanieMatsumoto
Although people’s differences are hailed as something wonderful that makes a person unique, the harsh reality is that some differences separate people and can be viewed unfavorably. Julianna Sandoval, a junior, knows what it is to be viewed in that way, even to face ridicule. Sandoval has experienced bullying from peers as a result of her condition, achondroplasia dwarfism. Her small stature makes her the object of constant stares from other students. Others have made fun of the way she sits. During her freshman year she was recorded walking around campus by another student. “It hurts my self esteem but I have a bucket of friends at Stagg that are supportive and kind.” Sandoval’s friends lift her spirits during these times, encouraging her to be herself and to get involved in school events she otherwise wouldn’t attend. Sandoval feels that schools can try to encourage students to accept others despite their differences, and to stick up for those who are being bullied. “Our school can resonate that it’s okay to tell if someone is being bullied you’re not a rat for defending someone.” Judith Heumann, an activist and leader in the disability community, has worked over the years to combat intolerance and create an accepting environment. After catching polio as a child, she became paralyzed, only able to get around by wheelchair. This isolated her along with other students in elementary school who had disabilities. In the four-story building, she and the others were forced to learn in the basement, her only interaction with others was at weekly assemblies. The lack of inte-
gration at her school made her want to speak up against that injustice. “What I’ve been working on with many other people, is removing barriers that have precluded us from being able to be equal members of our community.” Heumann suggests that disability should also be included in the curriculum to create a more empowering environment. By giving those with disabilities a voice by telling their story, showing films, or inviting guest speakers, Heumann wants disabilities to be seen as a normal part of life. “It’s very important for younger people to not feel that having a disability is stigmatizing.” Gina Ming, chairperson of the Special Education Resource Department, also wants students with disabilities to feel included. Depending on their specific need, students have their own Individualized Educational Program and may stay all day with one teacher. These classes are for students who have more debilitating disabilities that need certain accommodations not provided in a typical classroom setting. For students who need less services, Ming sets up certain accommodations with teachers. Through integrating more students into vocational classes, they’ll be able to in classes such as physical education and even some academic classes, depending on that student’s learning disability. Ming hopes students will understand one another and use their connection to better the lives of both individuals. “Sometimes it can be difficult if a student doesn’t have the same social skills as their peers but everyone learns ... so that is hopefully something people will be accepting of and will do their best to help that student out.”
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