Students attend SPS school board meeting and trans rights rally leading up to Trans Day of Visibility

While to some it may have seemed like a typical school board meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 28, to some Drury students it was an ongoing crusade on behalf of LGBTQ+ students in Springfield Public Schools. 

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year Kickapoo High School principal, Bill Powers, asked “a handful” of teachers to remove pride flags and other items due to a new district rule. Since this ruling, concerned citizens have attended school board meetings to voice their disdain for the lack of support for LGBTQ+ students in SPS, and board members have avoided making any statements. 

Drama came to a head when former Vice-President Maryam Mohammadkhani made comments on KWTO about her concerns with “the Safe Space movement” and disrupted a student session that tackled issues on racial trauma. She was stripped from her status as Vice-President. She then lost her seat on the school board after losing in the municipal election on April 4.

For March’s monthly meeting Drury professor, Dr. Ginney Norton and two Drury students, Mads Friske and Joy Neal felt it was their time to add their voices to the discussion, especially with Trans Day of Visibility fast approaching on Mar 31. 

Mads and Joy made an emotional plea to the board members, while they stared back for three minutes because they were not allowed to respond to public statements. 

Mads began by saying, “Today I would like to talk about how ostracized and unheard I have felt throughout my academic career and how I have been impacted by it.” While choking up at the podium Mads told the emotional story of how at times they felt their life was on the line. 

They told the school board that with a support group at Drury University they have thrived. “If younger me had the support that I have now, they would’ve actually wanted to continue living.” 

“Please just listen to us, please” Mads pleaded with the school board before taking back their seat. 

Joy started her speech by describing the cruelty of her fellow students while growing up. Usually that meant being teased for dressing in clothes other than what was typical for her gender assigned at birth. “Children can be cruel, I assume I don’t have to prove that to you” she said. 
She also described the lack of support she received from her teachers and administrators, and how this affected her ability to succeed in school. “When a student has their needs met, they excel. Plain and simple.” Joy said.

When Dr. Norton stood to speak, she seemed more like an expert witness on the stand than a concerned citizen. She established her familial history in SPS spanning decades before listing statistics about how U.S. citizens feel about LGBTQ+ rights. “Gallup poll data reveals more than 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage,” she began. 

Dr. Norton went on to demonstrate the need for the school board’s support: “When we support students in their identity we see an increase in resiliency, skill sets for collaboration, and more effective problem solving models.”  

Before sitting, Dr. Norton thanked the board for removing Mohammadkhani’s executive council status: “I know this was not an easy decision that does not come lightly.” Once back to her seat she tearfully looked at her students and whispered “I’m so proud of you.” 

Drury’s work was not done, however. The next day several members of Drury Allies protested the many anti-trans laws that are being proposed in Missouri and the United States. The protest was held by several trans support groups in Springfield including: P-Flag, PROMO, Refuge, the GLO Center, and the headliner: START. 

Before the protest started, The Mirror spoke to the START committee chair, Keisha Messina about what it was like to put this protest together and what she hoped to accomplish. “We need more allies– the job of making change cannot just be on the backs of trans folks,” she said. 

She also said, “last year was about pride and celebrating…this year it’s about burning the mother down.”

As the protest began, attendance was low. Only about fifteen mighty protesters were there chanting along with another START member, Tonya Claiborne. After about thirty minutes of waiting, stragglers began to trickle in, and it was not long until that trickle turned into a storm. 

That storm included Drury students. As the crowd grew in size and confidence, Tonya relinquished the megaphone to others who wished to tell their story. 

Several people went to speak hoping to inspire others, some being younger children and one grandmother saying “I am not the only pissed-off grandmother.” Some speakers were Drury students, including Serenity Sosa as she led the group in a chant while sporting a bi-pride flag around her shoulders. Other Drury students from Drury Allies joined in telling their stories and leading chants. 

Throughout the protest bikers began to circle the square and every few minutes more would join. They were not honking in support, it seemed they were revving in disdain. 

This did not deter protesters, however, because as the sun began to set Tonya had to stop volunteers from passing the megaphone. Protesters ended the night by embracing their new allies. 

Photos by Gisele Ortega

Article by Rebecca Dixon