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Jan. 2, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: The letter that follows was sent to Lexington City School Board members and was signed by 38 RCHS/LHS LGBTQIA+ alumni, 37 supporting RCHS/LHS alumni, and 27 supporting community members. Visit tiny.cc/Dec23 letter for the full list of signees.
As LGBTQIA+ alumni of Rockbridge County High School or Lexington High School, we know firsthand just how unique a privilege it is to grow up in Rockbridge. We were able to nurture our sense of independence, learn how to care for one another, and get creative with what we had.
We are aware of recent efforts to remove books from our public schools under the guise of protecting children. These efforts to restrict access to books are a way of enforcing a rigid moral code, twisting the vague concept of “sexual explicitness” in order to police material that explores, uplifts, and affirms LGBTQIA+ expression. Books that explore LGBTQIA+ life are invaluable to young people everywhere — but especially to those in our area where LGBTQIA+ visibility and access to affirmative resources are still limited. When we advocate for the safety of children, we must include the emotional safety of our LGBTQIA+ children as well.
We reject attempts to make vulnerable students question their right to exist, and we reject any framing of LGBTQIA+ identities as “explicit” or “immoral.”
In revising the policy for classroom and library materials, we urge Lexington School Board members and administrators to consider how LGBTQIA+ affirming books can improve and save student lives. We encourage the Board and administrators to empower librarians to make educated decisions and to provide for a robust process in the case of book challenges.
We reject any policy changes that allow only a few people to make decisions about removing books, particularly on subjective grounds. We reject any policy changes that cause educators to operate in fear of including books with LGBTQIA+ content.
We stand beside LGBTQIA+ youth in Rockbridge, because we used to stand in their place.
CARRIE HART, RCHS ’02 Winston-Salem, NC NINA BAILEY, RCHS ’10 Staunton WILL GILBERT, RCHS ’12 Richmond
