LGBTQ Rights in School

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) education and human rights violations were the priority of study at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (PACHS). For the Youth Connection Charter School Civic Engagement challenge, Campos students in the Civic Engagement cohort surveyed their peers to identify primary concerns around LGBTQ human rights violations. Then the group assessed the survey results to determine critical areas to create or change school policy or state law.

The most impactful component of our students’ experiences was their visit to the Illinois capitol. Students visited Springfield to lobby politicians, focusing on LGBTQ rights and had the opportunity to voice their concerns to State Representative Omar Aquino!  The experience was one of the highlights of the Civic Engagement challenge.

At the culminating event, they won 2nd Place!  The Civic Engagement team gave a compassionate presentation and shared their own stories of LGBTQ discrimination experiences at their former schools and explained why this topic was so important to them.  Also, they reported their research findings and demands for justice so LGBTQ students will receive a fair and equitable education.

Zoraida Tanon

PACHS CE Campus Leader