"Safe Spaces"

 Reflection

"Safe Spaces"

Gerri August

"Safe Spaces" is an article written by Gerri August about LGBTQ+ problem regarding safe spaces in schools. This is something that effects myself and also many of my friends because I am a part of the community and so is many of my friends. I have seen many people who I am close to that are struggling with both being home at being at school. It is a struggle for them to be accepted by their family and even some of their friends. One of my close friends has made strides in their female to male transition and are becoming greatly open with who they truly are. I'll call them C. I couldn't be more proud of C, but I see the struggle that he is going through. He is one of three children, the others of which are both female. I am close with his family and I see the truth behind the happy family. His mother is having a bit of trouble changing the pronouns and getting used to having a son but she is really trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible. His father and older sister are other issues. His father uses religion as a backing mechanism to defend his disapproval of C's choices. He believes that however you are at birth is how you should remain. C's older sister just completely disapproves. She calls C by the wrong pronouns and ridicules him. I happened to play a sport with his sister and I would often hear her talking about him in a way that made me very angry. I would try to talk to her about it but she would either not listen or just walk away. At school, C has many friends that are comfortable with his transition but there are random people in the school that do not understand what he is going through, but many just go with the flow of what C wants to be known as but there will always be a few people we encounter around the school that really don't understand and don't want to understand how he is feeling and why he has transitioned.  Many from older generations make jokes about safe spaces because they don't understand why they are so important. I believe that safe spaces in schools are really important for those who don't have other spaces in their lives. These safe spaces, including the simple ones like a supportive teachers classroom, can save lives. Theses spaces give anyone who needs it a place to be themselves and to give them support and give them the home and family that they may be lacking. Safe spaces save lives.