The pride flag in the shape of Utah adorned the front page and LGBTQ+ articles bookended The Tribune’s April 16 issue in section A. I am glad to see the LGBTQ+ coverage; I recently engaged in talks with Granite School District (GSD) employees, including the superintendent Dr. Nye, school board member Julie Jackson, and other GSD administrators about how to support the district’s queer community. The words “Truth, Empowerment, Community” sit printed atop The Salt Lake Tribune mast and resonate with me deeply.
The truth is that in 2022 The Trevor Project found that 45% of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-24) considered attempting suicide in the past year. The truth is that in this same national survey, LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide, and those who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide as well.
As PTA president at Millcreek Elementary School, I’ve spent hundreds of hours with other PTA members and GSD employees creating inclusive events and safe environments for our school community. However, this is not enough. We need to strive to help our queer brothers and sisters feel seen, heard and valued. This is a monumental task considering the limitations of Utah’s legislation. Despite this, there are still ways to empower our schools and communities through education.
Two resources that empower others are The Utah Pride Center and The Safe Zone Project. The Utah Pride Center is hosting a conference titled, “Pride not Prejudice,” on Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This conference is for Utah educators, students and caregivers to “help give them the tools to help better affirm, take care of, and support kids in the LGBTQ+ community.” The Safe Zone Project is a resource that is “queer positive, evidence-informed, and accessible, engaging and fun.” Even if GSD cannot provide training specific to queer youth, people can access free resources which can result in saving lives.
Our state motto is industry, which is a symbol of hard work. Together, we as a community need to work hard to ensure that each of us is loved and valued, not just tolerated. Accept the truth that queer youth encounter violence and high suicide rates. Empower those who work with our youth and dare to be a positive force and change within our community.
April D. Flores, Salt Lake City
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