About 20 community advocates gathered Oct. 18 at McCormick Theological Seminary in Hyde Park for a brainstorming session about a possible LGBT-focused high school.
The effort, which is the third attempt at such a school in the last several years, is initially being led by Bishop James Dukes of Pentecostal Christian Liberation Center.
Dukes’ initial idea is for an alternative model public school that would have a focus on serving mainly but not exclusively LGBT students. In 2014, Dukes unsuccessfully spearheaded an effort to open a similar program but the idea gained little traction. His idea came about after he became aware of numerous displaced LGBT youths in his neighborhood.
Dukes said that he has initially gotten buy-in from state and city officials, and that Chicago Public Schools had encouraged him to submit an application by the beginning of the year for a projected fall 2017 opening. But attendees at the Oct. 18 gathering largely recommended aiming for a fall 2018 opening at the earliest, so as to allow adequate time for fundraising, awareness-building and needs assessment efforts.
Many at the meeting stressed the importance of asking LGBT youths what they would be looking for in such a school, not just relying on the judgment of advocates and service providers. Initially, attendees hoped to utilize community organizations such as Broadway Youth Center to poll youths, as well as consider a large-scale convening in the spring.
“The conversation needs to be mobile,” Duke said. “We need to go to where [youth are] at.”
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance Executive Director Owen Daniel-McCarter expressed concern that such an endeavor would be to the detriment of efforts to reduce bullying and otherwise make all schools safer and welcoming for all LGBT students. But he agreed that there may be a need for such a school.
Myles Brady-Davis, of Howard Brown Health, further cautioned that the role of trans students in an LGBT school had to be thoughtfully determined, since their needs have quite often fallen by the wayside. “I know that my community would suffer the most if this is not done right,” Brady-Davis said.
Equality Illinois’ Brian Johnson added that a dedicated professional would be needed to spearhead the planning and development efforts.
Dukes was asked how he envisioned himself fitting into the long-term plans. He answered that he saw himself as a liaison between planners and the faith community, who would likely be integral for widespread acceptance of the school.
“My vision was to create a group of like-minded individuals,” he said. “To do this walk, there’s going to be people who need gentle conversation and friendly persuasion, and some of those folks may be in the faith-based side.”
The next planning meeting will be in early December.