Standing with the LGBTQIA+ community amidst tragedy
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the recent mass shooting in Colorado Springs, as well as the broader LGBTQIA+ community. We stand unequivocally with our friends, family, learners, educators, co-workers, and countless others who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
We once again find ourselves without words to adequately capture our feelings after yet another senseless tragedy involving a mass shooting. A grocery store, a school, a synagogue, an exercise studio, a nightclub, no matter where it happens it is unfathomable, and the grief feels endless.
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the recent mass shooting in Colorado Springs, as well as the broader LGBTQIA+ community. We know you are grieving both the senseless loss of life and a feeling of safety.
As we continue to witness ever-increasing levels of heated rhetoric and hatred directed at the Queer community, we are left asking ourselves, “why?” What is the endgame here? Hate never solves anything. The glorification of assault rifles, coupled with the demonization of a group of people, inevitably leads to unspeakable tragedies, such as the one that took place in Colorado.
We stand unequivocally with our friends, family, learners, educators, co-workers, and countless others who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We want you to know that you are not alone, and we will continue to create opportunities for dialogue and safe spaces for learners in the hopes of creating a more tolerant world for future generations.
We invite our educators to review our Class Content Policy, our more detailed guidelines on how to create space for all genders and sexual identities, and our recap of our recent live professional learning opportunity with The Trevor Project, where educators on Outschool learned more about what it means to be a true ally to all learners who enter the classroom and how to create an inclusive environment where LGBTQIA+ kids and teens feel safe and supported.
Additionally, we encourage parents and educators to revisit these tips on how to talk to your kids about tragedies:
When Bad Things Happen from Learning For Justice
Explaining the News to Our Kids from Common Sense Media
Current Events in Your Classroom from Facing History and Ourselves
