KY Teacher Of The Year Describes How Anti-LGBTQ Laws Endanger His Students

Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill has been criticized around the country, but that hasn’t stopped right-wing extremists from pushing for similar legislation in their states. Now, a teacher is talking about her own experience and that of her students.

Willie Carver was Kentucky’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. He is also openly gay and an advocate for LGBTQ students. However, in EdWeekHe describes the fear of going back to the classroom with the proliferation of laws attacking teachers simply for acknowledging and accepting their students’ identities.

He describes the case of a teacher in another state who resigned after parents complained he had written a message about inclusion – “You are free to be yourself with me. You have a problem.” – on the board, and students add flags and other symbols they identify, including pride flags.

Now, however, he is talking about the dangers to his students from these laws. See below.

KY Teacher of the Year Willie Carver worries for her and her students’ safety:

“A parent’s dangerous, false accusations that I [Gay-Straight Alliance] Student grooming has been shared 65 times on Facebook… Year after year, I receive suicide goodbye messages from students. ” pic.twitter.com/cCqnIbLhVF

– Amount (@therecount) May 19, 2022

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“40% of transgender people attempt suicide, almost all before they turn 25, but one person claims that adults cut suicides in half… some LGBT teachers will survive the storm hey… The politicization of our existence has darkened our schools.

A parent’s dangerous, false accusations that I [Gay-Straight Alliance] student grooming was shared 65 times on Facebook I feel my student and I are not safe. Many parents and I have asked the school to protect us. One father wrote, simply, “Let’s do something.” The school refuses to support us… The school is hurting. LGBTQ students are trying to survive it. They usually don’t.

Year after year, I received suicide goodbye messages from students at night. We have always struggled to save those students, but now I panic when my phone turns off after 10 hours.”