Gender-inclusive audition flyers indicate progress

Efforts of the transgender community at Chapel Hill High School over the past year have progressed greatly. Gender neutral bathrooms and dress code policies were among the first battlegrounds; however, the endeavors paid off in an unexpected manner.

Evidence of such efforts populated the hallway walls throughout the school in the form of a Capella posters. Changes were made in the phrasing, the inclusive language, of such posters.

Inclusive language involves a manner of speaking that seeks to accept and affirm a variety of identities. Examples of inclusive language can include the use of appropriate pronouns, respect of the difference between gender and sexual orientation and the use of “person centered” language.

Lucky 13, the school’s all-female a Capella group, displayed posters that included the line, “if you identify as a female.” The new wording is a departure from the exclusive language that is denoted by an “all-female” or “all-male” group.

An a Cappella advertisement may seem an unlikely place for a voice of the transgender community to be heard, yet, the inclusive language featured in this year’s audition posters declared an open-minded approach to transgender students.

“It was just really heartwarming to see that they went that extra step to be inclusive in their language,” senior Abigail Stern, President of the Queer Student Association at Chapel Hill, said.

Indeed, Lucky 13’s “heartwarming” action was necessary. In order to advance the attitude taken towards the LGBTQ community at this school, actions like the ones made by the members of Lucky 13 must be taken.

While the language is an important step for the school’s gender nonconforming students, there is still work to be done.

“I think gender non-binary students are still excluded from the dichotomy of a Capella groups,” Stern said.

What we cannot allow is complacency. It would be unwise to take the time to pat ourselves on the back for being so open minded. As long as LGBTQ teenagers, such as the late Leelah Alcorn, an Ohio teenager who killed herself after not being accepted by her parents, still face such damaging oppression, not enough has been done.

After all, making casual jokes about Kaitlyn Jenner transitioning into womanhood based solely on money and public attention is still accepted in the school community.

The school community should take inclusive language as a stepping stone. Teachers can start to implement it in their classes, clarifying all students’ preferred pronouns at the beginning of each year.

Students can begin to use the phrasing in their everyday vocabulary, encouraging acceptance and respect.

We can only hope that the breakthrough is one of the first changes at Chapel Hill High School that will make it a more welcoming and open environment for all.

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