MacArthur High School administrators and Board of Trustees,

It has come to our attention that teachers at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas had “safe space” stickers removed from their classrooms by the Irving ISD administrative staff and two teachers have been removed for being supportive allies to LGBTQ+ students. A safe space sticker is a symbol that lets LGBTQ+ young people know that they have supportive adult allies at school who they can turn to should they ever need support. School administrators and educators have made a professional commitment to keep all students safe, not just some. Removing symbols and faculty that help LGBTQ+ students feel affirmed and seen sends a dangerous message to LGBTQ+ kids and their peers — and promotes a hostile school climate.

Please consider the impact that your guidance will have on LGBTQ+ youth. The response of MacArthur High School suggests that LGBTQ+ youth should remain invisible, that they cannot be their authentic selves, that they must hide who they are, and that they shouldn’t have a schoolwide group of supportive teachers they can turn to should the need arise. Your response perpetuates stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and is not an activity that fulfills your commitment to provide a safe learning environment where kids can focus on their studies. 

Creating supportive and affirming environments in our schools that allow all people on campus, including LGBTQ+ students, to focus on academic success is our collective goal. Displaying safe space stickers is not a “political or sectarian issue” – rather, the active erasure of LGBTQ+ youth and removal of these supportive symbols is. 

We urge you to reinstate the teachers who have been removed for being allies to LGBTQ+ students and replace the “safe space” stickers that were unjustly removed.