The School District's First Gender and Sexual Health Summit

By Zesong Yu
June 8, 2023

On the 26th of April, a monumental step was taken in the direction of change. Philadelphia School District held its first ever Gender and Sexual Health Summit. As the students filtered in the auditorium, a rousing declaration resounded throughout the room. Proud and amiable children slowly adapted to the environment after the moving speech. How powerful the chance of meeting people and being in the same space with the same people, queer and or neurodivergent, is beyond imaginable. 

Celena Morrison, Executive Director with the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, pronounced their elation of the commencement of the rendezvous for people with special interests with distances seemingly worlds apart. Free food and drinks also accompanied students’ conversations. Kids were redirected to their chosen destinations. As we did not have many GSA members accompanying us during this trip, we will only shed light on selected topics. 

A beloved member, Cay of the WHYY public media organization, who can also be seen sometimes in journalism class and media club, joined us in presenting the method of using video to tell our stories. Interviewing our peers allowed us to get to know each other even better. 

In order to delve deeper into newly made friend’s lives, we had the opportunity to share our creativity and prowess in the English Arts. Many heartwarming and heart wrenching words delivered themselves from truth telling souls to our welcoming ears. Tears and laughter were shared amongst the children. 

When we broke for lunch, had our fills, we sat content. Another influential deliverance of discourse concerning current events saddened the atmosphere. An awe inspiring student conveyed their dismay of rights being violated against moral transgression. They had informed us of a student walkout that happened in Tennessee appropriate to queer minorities. Again after the presentation introduced to us in the Media topic, makes it clear how important what happened in Tennessee was, and how brave the students were in protest of what they believe is right. 

Fellow learners are once more presented with the opportunity of showing off their endless creativity. Another major bonding activity, sharing their love of arts alike. The illustrious Gender and Sexual Health Summit comes to an end. As we walk out there are gift bags, along with stations we walk past to freely take what we feel to commemorate this marvelous event.