Promoting Diversity, and Acceptance at Maple Ridge Secondary

As we come to the end of Pride Month, I want to share a couple of thoughts… 

The high school my kids graduated from recently completed a mural in the front entrance of their school. Artwork promoting diversity and acceptance. I. Love. It. Way to go MRSS!! 

We often think of high school as the worst place to be as a teenager, for some forever feeling inadequate, etc., but when this (pictured) is seen and read every day can it change one’s perspective? Can it lift that cloud that hangs over some? 

We need to know that school is the one safe place for many students. A place where they can be their authentic self, a place where the adults are their only allies. A place where friendships, clubs and teams help them feel like they belong and are part of a family. Nobody should only be loved and supported 8 am to 3 pm, 5 days a week, 10 months of a year. NOBODY. 

Maybe instead of looking at someone and judging, we should educate ourselves and learn to accept all people who come across our path. Imagine how much better our world would be!

Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria was once described to me as the following, ‘looking in the mirror most people are fine with what they see, maybe a little grumbling…. but what if you woke up one morning and suddenly you see yourself as a different sex - you have body parts you should not have.  You would panic. You would wonder what is wrong? Why is the outside not matching the inside?! Someone with gender dysphoria experiences this every. single. day.’ 

A person with gender dysphoria is constantly working on different strategies to help them ease their dysphoria. It can be debilitating, some need to transition, attempted suicide and suicide is high.  

NOBODY would choose this.

We need caring teachers, friends, church family, and extended family who see beyond their gender identity.  We need to show love and kindness. How can we do this?  Use their preferred name and pronouns. 

My village will always be accepting, loving and kind to all.

These are my reads right now and highly recommend! Listen Learn & Love I've recently re-read, A Better Heart I'm currently reading and Love Boldly is next.

Parenthood - LGBTQ Support

 Parents have been shamed for loving unconditionally and parents have been praised for disowning their children. I don’t understand. I do understand this. I’m very grateful my children know they are loved and that our home will always be a safe place for them. Love is love. Far too many of our LGBTQ children don’t have that. I hope any LGBTQ child I interact with knows I’m an ally.

LGBTQ Ally & My Faith

June is Pride month. Two years ago, the LGBTQ community became a larger part of my life and at the same time I hit a faith crisis - hard.  It was overwhelming. I could not understand how I could be true to my faith AND be an ally to the LGBTQ community. I need both. We all have the right to have faith in a higher being should we choose, but that doesn’t give us the right to judge anyone, to treat each other unkindly and sometimes with such cruelty! There is a line in a church song that constantly comes to mind, ‘Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too…” I do know that we have a God that loves and commands us to love. The LGBTQ community has taught me we shouldn’t expect anyone to apologize for living an authentic self, we all have that right and it isn’t a one size fits all! Its really pretty simple, but our imperfect world just doesn’t get it. Everyone needs to love and be loved. I am an ally!