The
Windsor
Humans Relation Commission and the Windsor High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) celebrated
Pride Month
with a showing of Love, Simon, at town hall on June 7.
Pride month coincides with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City.
The month recognizes the struggles and accomplishments of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities.
Love, Simon, a comedy, tells the story of Simon Spier, a high school student who has yet to come out to his friends or family and how he navigates his environment. The film’s universal themes are about love and acceptance.
Judge Kevin Washington, who chairs the commission, said communities across the nation hold celebrations and parades. Hartford holds Pride Month activities in September. Whether gay or straight, Washington said people know about the bumpy road to love and the need to be wanted.
“We as a community need to open up and accept people for who they are, whether it’s racially or gender-wise, just letting people be themselves,” Washington said, “and be a more welcoming community.”
While Washington considers Windsor a welcoming community, “there’s still room for growth.”
He sees bias in the current political atmosphere against the LGBTQ communities.
“Gay people are here we need to learn to get along, to negate the negativity of it all,” Washington said.
Organizations like the commission, True Color, and the Windsor High School GSA seek allies in the community, those willing to stand for what is right.
“The world keeps revolving and spinning. Sometimes we get set back and sometimes we move forward,” Washington said.
Though progress has been made on marriage equality and other areas, Washington is dismayed by the politics of division playing out across the nation.
“It’s like old and new fashion, one day it’s in, then next day it’s out,” he said.
Jill Goldberg, the GSA’s president, said the group continues to educate fellow students – and the community-at-large – about the LGBTQ community and the struggles in obtaining full equality.
Goldberg said some students still use derogatory or bigoted language.
“Usually, actions that they didn’t intend for that language to describe,” Goldberg said. “If someone were saying something off-handed, they will use a slur to describe it, even if that were not their intention. But it’s hurtful.”
Finding a sense of belonging is important, Goldberg said, building friendships with positive peers.
“It helps you get through the day-to-day things, even though you’re still hearing those things, it helps you relate to others,” Goldberg said.
Adding, “That’s one of the primary reasons for GSA, to be able to come together and say, ‘This is happening here, too, and you’re not alone. We’re all having the same experience here.'”
The GSA is pursuing a gender-neutral bathroom policy for Windsor schools.
Goldberg credits the school’s administration for being supportive. The school’s staff often helps arrange and support GSA community activities. Goldberg is looking toward the November elections to gauge the national direction.
David Schultz, the GSA’s co-adviser, said, “We have a strong core of students who take leadership roles and look at the condition of the school for LGBTQ community, and some of the struggles they may be facing. They respond to it.”
The alliance holds workshops with staff on issues and other programs, including a Day of Silence when students will not speak for an entire day, which represents a community unwilling to speak up or stand up for the rights of the LGBTQ communities.
The Day of Silence occurs in the third week of April.
“It’s a powerful message when you see so many people out there not talking. It sends a message that people are not being heard,” Schultz said.
Patricia Mack, the commission’s vice chair, welcomed guests and introduced the movie. Refreshments were served.