National Coming Out Day, the Equality Act, and the Year 2019

Did you know...

The Equality Act is a bill that is currently before Congress. It would amend the law known as Title VII that currently prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex, to include sexual orientation and gender identity (which some people believe is covered under the current terminology, and some people do not.)

Did you also know that we’ve been trying to gain traction on the issue since 1974? 

This year I decided to be open about my sexual orientation with my students and their parents—not that I blast it everywhere, nor do I make a point to overtly state it. But I have given myself the permission to use the word “wife” instead of “spouse”, and replace the pronouns “they/their” with “she/her” when speaking about the person I am married to. 

Please think about that for a second. 

In my seven years of teaching, I have not had a single negative reaction when students find out that I am gay. My ten and eleven year olds have surrounded me with nothing but love. Most times, they ask me why I didn't just tell them in the first place. 

Let me say it loud for the people in back: Ten and eleven year olds don’t give a fuck. 

But in 2019, 52% of LGBTQ people live in states where they could be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity (USAtoday.com).

A coworker has been encouraging me for years to just be open about my sexual orientation with my students. "It shouldn't matter,"  she has said. 

She's right. It shouldn't. 

While Wisconsin law prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity is not addressed.

From my understanding, the Equality Act has passed in the House, and its up to the Senate to pick it up.  It would still need presidential approval to become law (okay, we've all seen the Schoolhouse Rock video 🤣). The likelihood of that happening...well, it makes me want to seriously consider writing in Ellen DeGeneres in 2020.

There is certainly more I could say here. It felt important to acknowledge today, on National Coming Out Day. But the truth is that it matters every day.