Central Falls mothers won't tolerate hate
I don't have four kids. I have 2,600 of them. If you come for one of them, get ready because you're going to get me and many other mothers who are willing to stand up for them and won't tolerate hate.
The Central Falls Board of Trustees is the policy-making authority for the operation of the school district in the City. At Tuesday evening’s meeting, the district’s Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Transitioning Student Policy came under fire, as it was Central Falls’ turn to be visited by Robert Chiaradio, members of Moms for Liberty, and other anti-trans activists.
The Board was there to discuss school district business, such as receiving updates on the construction of the new high school, the execution of new bus services for students, and awarding the 2024 Teacher of the Year Award. But bigotry doesn’t respect boundaries. Why not trash a successful policy that has helped students navigate their gender identies without undue prejudice and bullying for seven years?
As has been the case at meetings across the state, more interesting than the ill-informed bigotry spewed by Chiaradio and his followers has been the defense of their students mounted by residents of the community. Six people spoke during the Public Comment portion of the Board of Trustees meeting last night. I want to start with the last speaker, Central Falls resident Maria Pedroza:
“To those who don't know me, I have worked at Central Falls School District for 10 years and both of my daughters graduated from Central Falls High School. I am a wife. I'm a sister. I'm a friend. I'm a daughter, and I'm a coworker, but mostly I'm an ally. Today I stand before you to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the Central Falls School District. The Central Falls community embodies resilience, diversity, and the unwavering pursuit of love and acceptance. Just like the LGBTQ+ community around the world. As citizens of the world, we all deserve the freedom to be our authentic selves without fear of discrimination or violence. We have the natural right to love, safety, and belonging.
“As members of this school community, I would like to remind everybody, and if you don't know, then I would like to tell you, that our mission is to educate and prepare future generations to be citizens of the world. That means that we support, educate, protect, and above all love our children regardless of their race, nationality, gender, gender identity, all of it - because the rights of our LGBTQ+ community are not the rights of 1%. They are the rights of everybody - every human being. In Central Falls, everybody belongs. All of our children are accepted, loved, and protected and they'll continue to be protected.
“The second part of my message is to those who wish to disrupt, disrespect, and violate the rights of our children: As a mother, I don't have four kids. I have 2,600 of them. So if you come for one of them, get ready because you're going to get me and many other mothers who are willing to stand up for them and who won't tolerate hate. Thank you.”
The first person to speak before the Board was Sarah Nathanson.
“I'm a Rhode Island resident and I'm speaking today because I care that young trans kids live and thrive. Growing up, my earliest knowledge of queer and trans people was that they often lived short and sad lives. I grew up in the same New Jersey hometown as Tyler Clementi who took his own life after his roommate recorded and distributed a video of him kissing a man. I was terrified to grow up to be one of these victims of hatred, but my own identity was undeniable. What got me through my difficult teenage years was the connections I built with those around me through my school's Gay-Straight Alliance. Equally important was the queer and trans media I consumed. I had few adult role models like me to look up to, so fictional queer and trans people became a lifeline. Witnessing these stories showed me a future where I did not feel desperately isolated, alone, or othered.
“I credit these stories with allowing me to grow into the successful queer and trans adult I am today. Today we are still facing an epidemic of dead trans children killed in hate, whether by bullies or their own hands. I grieve for these children who did not have a chance to grow into the proud trans adults they were meant to be. Trans people are not the only group in history to have been dehumanized, discriminated against, or hated. Like Nazis against the Jews or Jim Crow segregationists against Black Americans, hatred towards any group robs the heart of the oppressor. When you refuse to see the humanity of any group of people, you lose a part of your soul. I urge everyone here to look past what you might've heard about trans people on the news and instead focus on treating the trans people you come across with respect and a willingness to learn. You might make a friend or improve your relationship with a family member. Hate cannot stop hate. Only love can do that. So many people keep on pouring hate into our world today. I dream of the day when we can move past that in peace, love, and mutual respect for all.”
The second person to speak before the Board was JoJo Clark:
“I'm here tonight to voice my support and encourage the board to follow RIDE's guidelines for transgender and gender diverse students in your school system. At heart, it simply extends the protection and safety set for all students. It mirrors our society's endeavor to fight discrimination, prejudice, and bigotry. I can think of no better place to start.
“I'm 59 years of age. I conduct my life according to my own experience, heart, and reasoning. It is by that alone [that] I choose to stand before you and testify. Being trans is not evil or a cult. Some here would care for you to start a witch hunt where there are no witches to be found. Though I do not know them well, to speak of them as void of heart, I can clearly hear fear, condemnation, and persecution aimed at the innocent which this board is charged with the protection and safety of. For what reason are they being targeted? For their right of self-expression.
“Your due diligence is civically important here. I was raised in the post-segregated South and know quite well how bigotry is preserved. Dehumanization, exaggerations, and ignorance are reinforced by separation so that experience may never unseat the absurd. This fire is being fanned for the preservation of customs, not for the care of students today and those to come. The smoke of conspiracies that will be said here - too many for me to address - one by one can only be cleared by reasoning, which the state's diligence has consciously done.
“No path ever in the history of time has been cleared or resolved by bigotry. If you choose to acknowledge the rights and existence of all students, support expression, teach the existing diversity of our world, allow teachers their trained profession, and not allow adjunct policing for parents - all of which however difficult - you will lay the groundwork for healthier students in how they see themselves, treat their peers and perhaps even a more empathetic and understanding future society. It is your clarity and heart, not fear, I am here to call upon. Thank you very much for letting me speak.”
Anti-trans speakers included Robert Chiaradio, Susan Branch, and Melissa Bubble, whose comments at other school committees I have transcribed. Those interested can follow one of the links below, but I would suggest skipping their comments and focusing on the comments of the residents of the towns and cities they are visiting:
Newporters reject hate and book banning at School Committee meeting
Lincoln folks push back against anti-trans bigotry at school committee meeting
West Warwick joins long list of communities rejecting anti-trans hate
It is so heartwarming to read about all the local citizens, especially the Moms, who have been speaking out against the bigotry being presented at all these town meetings/forums. ❤️
While I get increasingly frustrated at the notion that this man is still on his hateful journey throughout the state, I am also increasingly impressed and reassured that RI is indeed full of wonderfully loving people that know right from wrong- that believe in true equity and inclusivity. Thank you to all who continue to show up for our kids, and thank you, Steve, for your hard work in going out to all these meetings and reporting back. You are all appreciated more than you will ever know.