Past two weeks have been exceptionally tough. As I alluded to in my previous post, I have been the target of unfounded fear and hatred by a few select people. Those select people are in positions of power... and it's not ironic that they belong to the so-called dominant culture (mostly male/white/affluent).
I should have gotten a clue early on in the school year when an "anonymous" person complained that I was "pushing a homosexual agenda in the classroom because I had gay posters all over the walls." This comment made its way to my department head, who defended me that indeed I did not. Comically, the only poster I can imagine the person referred to was the "Safe Zone" poster I put up from the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educator's Network (GLSEN).
But this week, the hatred reached a new low. I was referred to as a pedophile by a school board member. Never could I imagine this kind of insult being hurled in my direction. Unthinkable. This type of hate speech I liken to using the word "bomb" while going through airport security. It's incendiary.
This inflammatory accusation combined with being forced to adhere to rules that were made up just for me--no one else had to follow them--and we really do have a classic, textbook case of institutionalized, systematic discrimination. The truly sad part about all of this is that my students have had a front row seat to everything. None of them ever thought twice about my sexual orientation or gender expression, because it never mattered. It was never an issue in the classroom; therefore, they never cared. All of the hateful words and treatment have been perpetrated by the adults, adults... other teachers and even those in administration.
So, I'm left thinking--do I get a lawyer or just move on. When will we get a fair chance? When will be accepted? When will we stop being the target of people's hatred and prejudice?
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