Sue Campbell, Executive Director of OUT Maine, recently attended a school board meeting at Maine Regional School Unit 40, where approximately 300 people were in attendance to either give or listen to arguments for and against the book Gender Queer remaining in the high school library.
“While this appeal was about this specific book, this conversation is not about one particular award-winning book in a local school library,” said Campbell. “It is a national issue about adults who have decided to use at-risk students for political gain and further divide our country, regardless of the impact that may have on these students.”
“Whether it is supportive policies, inclusive curriculum or books in the library, every effort a school makes to be welcoming and inclusive is being questioned and attacked at school board meetings, through the negative press, and on social media,” Campbell said.
Although some people want everyone to believe OUT Maine is a political organization, it is not. Being a 501(c) (3) prohibits OUT Maine from directly or indirectly engaging in any political campaign. As OUT Maine continues to address the impact of the political “pushback” against LGBTQ+ youth sweeping the country and overwhelming Maine rural schools, its mission, building welcoming and affirming communities for Maine’s LGBTQ+ youth, is more relevant and urgent than ever.
“I understand putting our LGBTQ+ students on a stage has caught people off guard. Many adults are uncomfortable with the idea of people identifying as something other than heterosexual or cisgender. However, the reality is this is where we are as a society. We have a lot to learn from our youth. It is time we listen to them.” said Campbell.
— from a Nov. 1 OUT Maine press release
Read the complete press release from OUT Maine here.
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