Nura Aly’s wheelchair sometimes gets stuck in sidewalk cracks on Main Street. The sudden stop catapults her out of the chair, and she lands face-first on the ground. “That’s happened so many times in my life that I’m used to it,” she said. “I’ve figured out how to do it safely.” But that means she.
Starting Monday, Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will celebrate its second LGBTQ+ Equity Week dedicated to exploring topics such as identity, family structures, gender expression, stereotyping and the contributions of LGBTQ+ people throughout history.
Superintendent Devon Horton, D65 Vice President Elisabeth “Biz” Lindsay-Ryan and D65 President Anya Tanyavutti said in a March 25 letter the LGBTQ+ Equity week was created to help create an inclusive school environment.
“In District 65, we take our responsibility seriously to create an inclusive, welcoming environment where every child can feel safe, valued, and has the support and encouragement to reach their full potential,” the letter read.
The first Equity Week was in 2019 after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill mandating the inclusion of LGBTQ+ history into all public schools by 2020.