If a bill now racing through the Tennessee legislature becomes law, as it almost certainly will, it will become illegal to display a pride flag at a public school in a location where any student ...
In the past, rainbow flags were used as a sign to students that you as a teacher were available for anyone to come talk if they needed support, and that your classroom was a safe space. This was especially important for some of the most stigmatized and marginalized groups in the US.
So there is a bit of history behind it.
This may only be anecdotal, and I can’t quote statistics on how effective or important pride flags are to that type of support now, but a close friend of mine who came out in high school first came out to a trusted teacher. They ONLY did this because the pride flag to them meant someone who might understand. It was a year or so later when this person came out to our friend group, and only because of the guidance of that individual who help them through some serious shit, and got them the support infrastructure they needed.
In the past, rainbow flags were used as a sign to students that you as a teacher were available for anyone to come talk if they needed support, and that your classroom was a safe space. This was especially important for some of the most stigmatized and marginalized groups in the US.
So there is a bit of history behind it.
This may only be anecdotal, and I can’t quote statistics on how effective or important pride flags are to that type of support now, but a close friend of mine who came out in high school first came out to a trusted teacher. They ONLY did this because the pride flag to them meant someone who might understand. It was a year or so later when this person came out to our friend group, and only because of the guidance of that individual who help them through some serious shit, and got them the support infrastructure they needed.
That is actually a valid point. I didn’t really think about it from that perspective.