This year, Blue Mountain Union’s Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) partnered with Outright Vermont, a non-profit organization that helps educate schools to create safe LGBTQ+ environments.
Blue Mountain’s GSA first reached out to Outright Vermont last school year about partnering to host a professional development course to help educate teachers about LGBTQ+ issues. This past August, our teachers kicked off the year by attending a professional development course focused on how to make BMU an equitable environment for everyone. This winter, the staff continued their learning with Outright Vermont. These sessions equipped teachers with the knowledge and skills to help all students who are in the LGBTQ+ community by using the correct terminology, understanding the gender and sexuality spectrums, learning the proper pronouns used, and understanding the challenges LGBTQ+ members face in a public school.
When talking about how this important session helped to better inform and support the BMU community, Mrs. Lund, the faculty advisor for BMU’s GSA, explained, “Being a part of this work has been impactful in such a meaningful way. We want to make sure that everyone feels safe at school, and this work has allowed us, as educators, to take the necessary steps to make BMU as safe as possible for LGBTQ+ youth. GSA members have worked tirelessly to educate themselves and bring that knowledge forward. They have attended workshops, been invited to the State House for a leadership day, have collaborated on presentations, hosted a community book discussion last school year, and are continuing to work closely with Outright Vermont.”
GSA President Izzy Hand says, “The goal (of GSA) is to ensure every student feels seen, respected, and supported.” Hand emphasized the importance of staff being informed about their students and noted that even the smallest gestures, like using the correct pronouns or a preferred name, can make the biggest impact on students.
On May 7, 2025, teachers will participate in a final Outright Vermont’s training. BMU teachers and staff hope that this learning will help make BMU a safer place for everyone for years to come. For more information and support for LGBTQ+ folks, visit Outright Vermont
