For the 21st Show on January 30, 2020, Lee Gaines interviewed three members of Governor Pritzker’s Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force — Benton Goff, a junior at Southern Illinois University; Jennifer Gill, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools District 186; and Nat Duran, PHIMC’s Youth Engagement Manager for Illinois Safe Schools Alliance — to discuss making schools more inclusive for transgender and gender nonconforming students.

“When we talk to trans, and nonbinary, and gender-expansive students across the state, you’re hearing these echoed themes of … not having access to facilities that are aligned with their gender identity, or [they] are outed, whether intentionally or unintentionally …

“I think that we are also seeing a shift in trends in recent years, both due to recent leadership at the federal level but also with increased visibility of trans identities and issues, there’s going to be – right? – blowback from that, and so I’m really excited about the Task Force report because the one consistent thing we hear from teachers, educators, administrators throughout the state is a lack of guidance, and so now we can point to this,” said Nat Duran.

Listen to the full interview (16 minutes) here:
Task Force Releases Recommendations For Making Schools More Inclusive For Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students


To learn more about our Illinois Safe Schools Alliance work to support LGBTQ students through school policy, youth action, and professional development for school staff, click here.