March 31, 2025. While working today, I came across something that brought me back to high school and ripped my heart out. With tears in my eyes, I dropped everything I had to do and started writing this blog.
I wasn’t crying because of some personal trauma. Frankly, my high school years were great. I was a multisport athlete, had amazing friends (many of whom are friends to this day), and my family loved me and was there for me. Comparatively speaking, I had very few worries.
But it was high school.
A time of insecurity, even for the kids who seemingly had everything. And even more so for girls.
Longing to fit in. Wanting to be liked, particularly by the “in” crowd. Feeling the need to dress and act a certain way. Worried about being teased or even bullied. Still learning how to be comfortable in our own skin, which for many of us did not come until much later.
Sure, there are various degrees and even exceptions, but think back.
Imagine being singled out and bullied in front of your entire class and then, the entire community. Absolutely devastating. At least, there usually were consequences for the bully’s public behavior.
Now imagine if the bully was the school administration and public officials.
Don’t think that’s possible?
That is precisely what happened in Columbus, Ohio last month.
Without notice, the Columbus City School District revised its records, erasing preferred names and reverting to the names set forth the students’ birth certificates. An attack on transgender and nonbinary students.
One student learned in front of his class and was sent to the office to figure it out. Blindsided, singled out, and terrified, he went to the bathroom and called his mother.
Bullying.
The changes made – without notice and without making emotional support available – are not required by law.
Bullying.
If public officials did this in a jurisdiction that supported equality and inclusion, it would be called just that, and there would be consequences.
Not in Ohio and other states hostile to women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights – where the bullies are making and enforcing the laws. Even the federal government.
Vilifying an already marginalized community to sow division. All in an effort to retain power.
Time for us to wake up and call it for what it is. BULLYING.
And time to tell all of the politicians we aren’t standing for it any longer.
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