Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. (Photo courtesy Anna-Jonesboro Community High School)
ANNA, Illinois | An unofficial student survey that made the rounds at the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School located in the Southern tip of Illinois last week has the local LGBTQ+ community angered and LGBTQ+ students alarmed.
A group of students calling themselves the “Anti-Queer Association” had circulated the so-called survey that asked: “Yes, I want queers to go in the bathroom,” or “No, I don’t want queer kids to go to the bathroom with us normal people.”
Rob Wright, the superintendent told NBC News affiliate WPSD 6 News that school administrators found out about the survey this Oct. 20.
“We began investigating. We’re still investigating. At this point in time, I really can’t give any information regarding any individuals or discipline measures,” said Wright. “But, I can tell you that this type of harassment is taken very seriously and will not be tolerated. And once the investigation is complete, the appropriate discipline will take place where warranted.”
The Rainbow Café LGBTQ Center in neighboring Carbondale, Illinois, responded to the survey.
“My understanding is that it was an association that was brought upon the students and a parent that’s cosigning for it that made the Anti-Queer Association, basically trying to repeal the Keep Youth/Children Safe Act,” Michael Coleman a member of the Cafe’s board of directors told WPSD. “Basically stating that we are supposed to have inclusive bathrooms for those who are transgender or non-binary or non-conforming,” he added.
Coleman also told the station that bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind is not tolerated.
Noting that the high school’s LGBTQ+ students are feeling alarmed and that there are no safe spaces, he said that the message he wanted to convey to those students is to let them know they have a safe space available with his organization. He also shared a message to those responsible for the survey.
“Come to Rainbow Cafe. We offer a plethora of resources and training,” he said. “I’m actually the one that does all of the training for different local agencies, schools. We do training on an individual basis as well, so you know, I like to tell people: If you don’t know something, learn it. Don’t spew hate about it because you don’t understand something.
“They really feel very unsafe in that environment in Anna-Jonesboro and that they felt that nothing was going to get done,” Coleman added. “That by us taking that stand, that initiative, they really feel like it’s not going to happen anymore.”
Wright said to WPSD that “he is personally disappointed that this happened at the school.” The station asked Wright if the staff at the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School will provide counseling to the LGBTQ+ and other students affected. His response was that the school has always had counseling and other resources available to students.
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