While school boards across the country ban LGBTQ+ books and target trans youth, Chicago teachers just did the opposite — and won.
The Advocate reports this week, the Chicago Teachers Union ratified a groundbreaking contract that includes some of the strongest LGBTQ+ protections ever in public schools.
The deal guarantees gender-affirming health care, trained support staff in every school, and protections for chosen names, pronouns, and inclusive curriculum. The contract also expands mental health services, protects academic freedom in the classroom, increases access to school librarians and counselors, and bans discriminatory dress codes. But for LGBTQ+ students in particular, the changes offer something else: visibility and safety.
Ninety-seven percent of union members backed the deal — with one teacher calling it “not just about survival — but joy.”