After the final bell, when most students clear out the school, a small group files into one of the social studies rooms, puts on some music, and starts an open discussion on current events that affect them and their peers.
Spectrum is an alliance for LGBTQIA+ students at Revere High School (RHS) and meets a few times a month for discussion and celebration. Recent legislation passed in Ohio, however, may inhibit the ability of queer members in the club to express themselves throughout the school day, which, as some club leaders pointed out, could affect membership moving forward. Their most recent meeting involved discussing the new laws.
One of the new laws, deemed the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” in Ohio, requires teachers, counselors, and supervisors to report to parents any incident in which a student comes to them with an issue regarding sexuality or gender ideology. Jason Milczewski, an AP Government teacher and the adviser for Spectrum, clarified that the legislation would not have concrete effects on the club’s operations, but elaborated on the greater impact it would have on students.
“Most of that legislation. . . doesn’t affect after school [activities]. I think the only thing that Spectrum would be affected by is that the people in Spectrum probably just need to be aware of what those changes are. So I would say Spectrum needs to be educated. Everybody really needs to be educated on what those changes are. . . it affects awareness,” Milczewski said.
Junior Elle Burns, Spectrum’s president, has already begun preparation for how to keep the club accessible to members.
“Now people that come to our club may not be able to express who they are to us. . . we will try to keep it as safe as we can without infringing upon their privacy, unless they themselves are open and okay with saying that they happen to be a part of the community and they know that their family will not react [negatively],” Burns said.
Junior Jay Brubaker, Spectrum’s vice president, emphasized the importance of student privacy because not all households are accepting. They said that the best course of action in these scenarios would be willingness to support students who are struggling.
“[The best thing to do] is to just listen to them and be there for them. . . there’s not really much that we can do as minors, but if you just listen and talk to them about it and support them through their anxiety, that means a ton,” Brubaker said.
Brubaker’s sentiment is reflected in how the leaders handle the club. Burns explained that the club usually runs in a laid-back manner that encourages open discussion and hanging out rather than more strenuous activity.
“Usually it’s very chill. We all like to listen to music or eat snacks. . . only a couple times a year will we have more serious meetings like today to discuss statutes and laws that are currently affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. . . it gives people a nice safe space to come free of judgment,” Burns said.
Milczewski explained that the nature of the club fosters a positive environment for any interested student to participate.
“[The students] have a series of values and ways they want to run the club that makes it so that everyone in the room feels comfortable, [and] everyone in the room feels like they contribute. There’s never a bad idea. There’s never a bad question. And so it’s just an environment [where], as long as you’re respectful, they’re open to any participation,” Milczewski said.
In addition to the positive environment, Brubaker values the community and solidarity one can find in the club. They explained that commonality can lead to friendships.
“For queer people, it definitely creates a sense of belonging, especially in our younger classmen, when they’re just starting out, or they don’t know any people who are like them. . . it can give some sort of friendship [and] inclusiveness. There’s really no judgment in that group. . . because we’ve all been there before,” Brubaker said.
Outside of the club, Brubaker encourages people to keep an open mind and spare judgement. Brubaker recounted instances where certain fundraisers were ridiculed by some students due to their relationship with Spectrum.
“[You] don’t have to be an outspoken ally. . . sometimes just not caring would be best. You don’t need to be the most supportive person in the world, but I’d rather just not have our posters be torn down,” Brubaker said.
Similarly, Burns agrees that neutrality on the subject of gender and sexual orientation is the best way to approach the subject. She explained her reasoning for tolerance.
“There have been times where it’s just like, why are you judging this person based on such a minor detail? Like, obviously it is a major thing, but it should be a minor detail to you, because it does not affect you, right? In this world, they’re going to be different types of people, and we cannot change that,” Burns said.
Spectrum is open to any and all students as a place for open communication and mutual respect. Milczewski stated that these ideals are what makes it a beneficial club for all.
“Spectrum is a place where everyone is welcome to participate, as long as you’re open and willing to respect everyone. . . It’s a place where no matter who you are, you can come, you can participate, you can be part of something, and you can feel comfortable there. And I think that, in itself, contributes to school culture,” Milczewski said.
Even with the passage of legislation that may affect current or prospective members, Spectrum will continue serving as a safe space where students can broaden their awareness of issues and work towards a common goal of tolerance in the school.
