Statement on Racist Incidents in East Haddam Public Schools

Earlier this week, news broke about a Black student at Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School in East Haddam receiving hundreds of racist memes, photos and videos from a group of students identifying themselves as “KKK.” 

According to the Hartford Courant, “The child’s father went to school officials asking for help … weeks before any investigation was officially launched.” This is all too often the case despite the clearly outlined obligations schools have under Connecticut’s safe school climate statutes. 

As organizations focused on LGBTQ+ youth, we often see similar harmful behavior and lack of support from school administrators. Melissa Combs, founder of the Out Accountability Project, says “As the parent of an LGBTQ+ student who experienced relentless bullying and harassment from both his peers and school administrators, I understand the devastating impact this has on children and how it affects the entire family. Our hearts go out to this family and the student, and we stand in solidarity with them.”

In fact, East Haddam Public Schools appears to have not started an investigation until the NAACP and the media became involved. No family should have to take extraordinary steps like these to ensure their child’s right to an education in a safe learning environment is fulfilled by a public school. Mel Cordner, founder of Q Plus, says, “We work with schools, providing them the tools and resources that ensure LGBTQ+ students are embraced as full members of the learning community. There is no excuse for any student to have to suffer in school or for any parent to have to advocate for their child’s right to an equitable education.”

Harassment this organized and pervasive often targets multiple students across various protected classes. Seventy-six percent of LGBTQ+ youth experience this sort of discriminatory harassment in schools, which results in disproportionate rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, fear-based absences and lower academic performance. 

When someone has the courage to come forward like this family did, others start coming forward too. 

The Out Accountability Project is an organization that helps schools create and maintain safe, affirming learning environments for LGBTQ+ students. One of our partners, Q Plus, is a queer-youth-led organization that provides supportive services to LGBTQ+ youth. A cornerstone of our work includes helping parents, caregivers, and students navigate bullying and harassment in their school. If your LGBTQ+ student is a victim of this discriminatory harassment in East Haddam Public Schools, or any other public school district in Connecticut, please contact the Project at info@outaccountabilityproject.org or 203.909.1209, or contact Q Plus at info@qplusct.org or 860.255.4425. As a collective of parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth, alongside Q Plus and a group of amazing allies, we have professional expertise in many disciplines and can help your family with a variety of resources. Information shared with the Project and Q Plus is held in the strictest of confidence.  

In solidarity,