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Transgender Model Geena Rocero Highlights HRC’s Welcoming Schools Project on National News Show
Post submitted by Charles Girard, Welcoming Schools Coordinator.
Recently, ASPIREist, a news show on USA Network, joined openly transgender model and HRC supporter Geena Rocero for an inside look at HRC’s Welcoming Schools program to discover how the program helps transgender youth feel safer at school.
HRC’s Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier program dedicated to creating respectful and supportive elementary schools that embrace family diversity and LGBTQ-inclusion, prevent biased-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and embrace all students.
In the piece, Rocero interviewed Tarah Fleming, a Welcoming Schools Expert Trainer and the Education Director of Our Family Coalition,
“We have seen definite reductions in gender bias bullying when educators use Welcoming Schools,” Fleming said. “When kids feel safe and seen and valued, they do better in school….they thrive.”
Rocero, an HRC supporter who has worked closely with the HRC Foundation’s Global team, also spoke with students who participated in the Welcoming Schools program. The students, easily engaged in a conversation with Rocero about LGBTQ people and diversity.
“I think [transgender people] should be pretty happy because they’re unique and special,” said one student.
In addition to the appearing in ASPIREist, Rocero founded Gender Proud, a transgender advocacy and awareness organization. She also spoke at HRC’s National Dinner in 2014.
The students that Rocero met in the video are models of the kinds of citizens that HRC’s Welcoming Schools hopes to foster –– compassionate, understanding and ready to create a better world for everyone.
Watch a clip of the video below or click here to watch the whole episode. Additionally, check out Welcoming Schools’ updated website to help your community embrace all students and their families.
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