10.18.24 Read Time: 2 min Why I Wrote NEA Policy to Support LQBTQIA+ Visibility By Jacky Dang Stevenson Middle School College & Career Prep Every year, the National Education Association – one of UTLA’s two national affiliates – holds the Representative Assembly, where educator delegates from around the country meet to debate and vote on union policy. This was my first time being elected an NEA delegate, and I had the pleasure of creating New Business Item 25 for the Representative Assembly. This business item calls on NEA to create articles about National Coming Out Day and International Transgender Day of Visibility on their website to engage more awareness around LGBTQ+ education and essential awareness days. While I was not able to present it to the Representative Assembly due to a strike, it was sent to the NEA board of directors where, I am excited to announce, it was officially passed. There are a multitude of reasons as to why I felt strongly about writing this policy. First and foremost, queer educators’ and students’ rights continue to be under attack. LGBTQ+ education is not taught at all schools across the United States. In some states, teachers cannot even share that they are a part of the community and/or are forced to out their students to their parents. As a queer and nonbinary educator, fighting to provide safer schools where people can be accepted for who they are has been a defining moral in my career. Having access to articles that teach about historic and monumental moments in queer history such as National Coming Out Day and International Transgender Day of Visibility is a step toward a more just education system. Second, not only are queer rights under attack in school systems but in various other areas, including health care. Even though over a decade of research has been done to make the process safe and it’s backed by every medical association, legislators across the United States are creating policies that make it extremely difficult to access gender-affirming care. Some politicians have even accused parents of transgender children of abuse. To make matters worse, they are not only targeting trans youth but also want to restrict access for trans adults to receive the care they need as well. While a step in the right direction was taken in March of this year, when President Biden declared International Transgender Day of Visibility a holiday, it received immense backlash. This was supposed to be a time where we as a nation celebrate the adversity the transgender community has faced and instead, many were left fearing for their life as they received threatening comments in public and on social media. Adding Coming Out Day and International Transgender Day of Visibility will give all educators access to pertinent knowledge around these awareness days. As we all know, knowledge is power. The more we continue to learn, to educate, the more of an inclusive world we can continue to build not just for ourselves, but the students who we continue to educate. The students who may have questions but not know who their safe space is. The students who deserve what we may never have the opportunity to have. Recent News See All Posts Thousands Hit School Sidewalks for Immigration Rights 05.02.25 California Educator Unions Announce Launch of ‘We Can’t Wait’ Statewide Campaign 05.02.25 Families and Students Demand Action Following Racist Attacks 17.01.25