An organization of LGBTQ+ educators that aims to make schools safe and supportive for students and educators of all identities.
Statement on the Murder of O’Shae Sibley
Tuesday August 8th, 2023
O’Shae Sibley, a gay Black man, was attacked while dancing with his friends & filling up his car at a Brooklyn gas station on July 29, 2023. A group of boys & young men insisted he stop & one of them fatally stabbed O’Shae Sibley.
We are deeply disturbed by this tragedy & feel our society failed two young people on July 29th. We fell short of our collective responsibility to protect each other from senseless acts of violence. O’Shae Sibley & his friends rendered themselves vulnerable to deadly violence by simply expressing themselves through dance, an art form Sibley loved. It’s our duty to teach that all are entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in a truly democratic society, & when expressions of this happiness are punishable by lethal force, our shared responsibility becomes even more urgent.
We also failed the young man who attacked & killed O’Shae Sibley. It is clear he lacked the understanding of self, & of the people & world around him, he needed to engage differently with Sibley & his friends. When our politicians actively ban conversations about gender, race, sexuality, & other parts of peoples’ identities, & actively rewrite history, many of our youth are deprived of safe spaces to have thorough & honest conversations about how their lives are connected.
The Proud Educator Network stands in solidarity with O’Shae Sibley’s family & friends, & we grieve with them as they mourn this tragic loss. While our hearts are heavy, we are determined to keep up our fight! We will continue to support LGBTQIA+ educators in NY & beyond, & will do so in the most intersectional & liberatory way we know how. We invite educators everywhere to join us in the effort to abolish hate crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community by teaching our young people the democratic values of equity, empathy & inclusion.”
TAKE ACTION WITH THE PROUD EDUCATOR NETWORK
ATTEND AN EVENT!
We are a few weeks away from announcing relevant, impactful, hybrid programming for the 2023-2024 school year. Check our social media & website for details: Proudteacherinitiative.org
SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US!
Storytelling is a powerful organizing strategy as it gives voice to those who have historically been silenced. Attending our story nights is just one of many ways to share your story about being queer in your school community! write to us on our website by using the "About Us" & "Contact Us" tabs. We want to hear from you!
Lisette Vergara tells her story in our first Proud Educator Story Night.
Proud Educator Story Night
A live storytelling night where LGBTQ+ educators share stories about the intersection between their identity and their experience in schools.
Members of the Proud Educator Project presented a workshop at the Decolonizing Education Conference in June 2019.
Proud Educator Research & Advocacy
In an effort to broaden our understanding of the role of queer educators in schools, and to strengthen our advocacy for radical school reform, we engage in collaborative research projects with scholars at the City University of New York and other academic institutions.
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Proud Educators + Youth Voices
Youth Speak Out roundtables are opportunities for queer youth and queer educators from different schools to come together to discuss, in a safe space, challenges and triumphs about their identities and lives.
Principal Jose Jimenez in interview on The Thought Project podcast.
Proud Educators In the Media
Members of our Proud Educator community continue to speak out in various public spaces, as a way for all LGBTQ+ educators to gain visibility in our mission.
Proud Educators gather at M.S. 839 in Kensington, Brooklyn.
Proud Educator Gatherings
We gather Proud Educators monthly to discuss topics related to our mission, share stories and build community with each other.
Proud Educator Writing Project
We aim to increase visibility by supporting each other in writing sessions in order to compile our narratives for publications.