Dear friends and members of University UMC:
While the official first day of Summer is June 20, it feels like Summer has begun. School is out. Vacation plans are underway for many of you. And today is the conclusion of our fabulous Vacation Church Camp. The theme is: On Earth as it is in Heaven. Children have been learning what it means to be a servant leader and to live in ways that bring a little more peace, kindness, and love to the world.
I also write to you this day on a personal note. This is the first Friday Note where I’ve asked my daughter Clare to join me in sharing some words. Tuesday evening I shared with her the news about Texas Senate Bill 12 which bans DEI and LGBTQIA+ clubs in schools. Given the world of politics at this time in our state and country’s history, I am not completely surprised but I am still broken-hearted and enraged. Clare’s response was similar to mine, “I’m not surprised, but it's terrible all the same.” We shared our hopes and fears.
Our representatives and government officials are failing our students and communities. Schools should be a place of safety for children and youth. For hungry students, school has often been the place where they are guaranteed a warm meal. For students who live in difficult home environments, school can be the place where they find some joy and levity and access to caring professionals. And for students who are either queer or questioning, school has been the place where they can bring their curious questions and find acceptance. Programs that provide everything from nutritious lunches to trained social workers are being gutted. Now a bill banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and LGBTQIA + clubs is on the way to the governor’s desk to be signed. Among other things, SB 12 threatens the safety of trans and nonbinary students and any progress made in the work of antiracism is destroyed while those in power ignore historical truths. The authors of SB12 claim to be concerned about the rights of parents, but as a parent of a high school student, I resist their patronizing rhetoric. I join with parents and community members who work together to support and care for our children and youth.
Clare identifies as lesbian and as part of the queer community. Some of you know this. Some of you are finding this out as you read this note. As we visited about our hopes and fears earlier this week, I asked her what she thought of me mentioning her and whether she would be comfortable writing. I’m grateful for her openness and willingness to share some of her own story and her own thoughts about SB12 which is–of course!–better than me trying to share on her behalf. These are Clare’s words:
