LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s as attacks on Queerness have begun to increase once more. An African term, from the Akan people, Sankofa, seems relevant here, particularly given how movements for racial justice and sexual liberation were intertwined. Sankofa is a celebration of remembrance. The North Carolina State University African American Cultural Center states its meaning in the Akan language and in English: “so wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki/it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.” While this legacy of activism has certainly not been forgotten, it must be fetched and brought back into the sunlight, to spread itself amongst a new generation of Queer people.
Via Pexels
October is LGBTQ+ history month. As a Queer person, it was difficult to write this without straying into the political, which was not my initial intention. However, upon further consideration, it is clear that the issues of Queer history and politics are intertwined. Many people, somewhat reasonably, think of Stonewall and the modern Pride movement as the beginning of Queer history. While not strictly true, it was a pivotal moment for Queer culture and Queer rights. Stonewall, in many ways, defined the spirit of Queerness in a time of oppression. This conception was created in a time of flux, and we are no in a time of flux again. It is important to remember our roots. Queer history has its roots in activism and social justice movements. Activists like Marsha P. Johnson, a Black drag queen, were integral to these movements. The spirit of queer activism was not just one that wanted to survive, but one that wanted to change society itself. This is an attitude that has resonated with Queer people to the present, and it is one we need more and more
Biden Administration Passes Initiative to Support Mental Health in Schools S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s On Oct. 12, 2022, roughly one year before the writing of this article, the American Psychological Association, citing the Healthy Minds Study, reported that “more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health condition.” The APA also reported data from another survey, the National College Health Assessment, stating that “almost three quarters of students reported moderate of severe psychological distress.” Also in 2022, President THE FORUM, October 2023
Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities act into law. This made it possible for his administration to award 2.6 million dollars to support mental health services in schools, an action taken on Sept 22, 2023. A press release from the U.S. Department of Education states that “Over the next five years, BSCA will invest over $1 billion in school-based mental health programs.” Such an investment into mental health for college students has been necessary for quite a long time, particularly
since the COVID-19 pandemic worsened mental health across the board. U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, is quoted as saying “The youth mental health crisis continues to be among the top concerns raised to me by the students, parents, families, educators and school leaders I’ve visited in 43 states across America.” The two programs that the U.S. Department of Education has for supporting mental health care in schools and increasing the number of mental health
providers—School-Based Mental Health and Mental Health Services Professionals— will be supported by the University of Wisconsin Mental Health Evaluation, Training, Research and Innovation Center(METRICS). This program also pays particularly attention to the mental health needs of Hispanic students through the University of California’s Hispanic serving institution, Santa Barbara’s International Center for SchoolBased Youth Development.
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