PEKIN (WEEK )- On September 10th Pekin Community High LGBTQ students participated in a peaceful protest against a long-time bullying problem. Students wore the Pride flags to stand in solidarity for their equal rights to be themselves, but things turned violent when other students began harassing protestors.
“Kids were ripping their flags off of their backs. One student was physically harmed. Another student was pulled off a lunchroom bench, because somebody tried to pull their flag off and pulled them clear off the bench,” said Cassie Lucchesi, Vice President of Business for Peoria Pride.
Peoria Pride has partnered with Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, PFLAG Peoria, and Equality Illinois to write a letter for a call to action from not only this event but, ongoing bullying targeting LGBTQ students. Parents have reached out to Peoria Pride for help address the matter.
“Their concerned, they want to know how to help their children. They want to know what they can do as a parent to help inform the school and have the school be in compliance with state mandates and protecting their LBGTQ kids,” says Lucchesi.
The organization recommends Safe Zone Training to educators and leaders at pekin Community High School. This training provides a basic understanding of what happens in the LGBTQ community, verbiage, and basic right those among this community don’t always have.
Pekin Community High School has not made comment at this time.
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