I often felt safe and happy at school. I seldom felt accepted.
That is because Section 28 – the law that prohibited “the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship” – had been in force for 10 years by the time I got to high school.
I knew there was a part of me that was not acceptable.
I left school grateful for the friends who were able to see past how the world was teaching them to treat me, and a fondness for the teachers who made the effort to work around the law and let me know I was worth knowing.
And I had hoped that was all beyond us.
But on a recent trip to Alabama in the United States, I got a look into the past.
I also saw what our future could look like if schools continue to be politicised, and trans people continue to be demonised.
Echoes of LGBTQ life in the Scottish schools I recall
On a visit to the state government’s Office of Minority Affairs, one of the group I was travelling with asked what the department was doing to engage LGBTQ people.
The person hosting our visit smiled and said “our work comes from the Governor’s office, so I’d have to speak to my manager before answering that question”, and then smiled again until we took the hint and moved on.
I felt like I was right back in a Section 28 classroom.
Tweeted this before; tweeting it again:
When I was in high school and had a girlfriend, my Guidance Teacher took it upon herself to phone my parents and my girlfriend’s. Mine, luckily, already knew I was gay – hers didn’t.
Outing LGBT pupils is dangerous and irresponsible. https://t.co/FOXmtVSgif
— Eilidh Douglas (@eilidhdouglas) November 6, 2022
But it turns out that the question landed in the eye of a storm.
Earlier this year, the Alabama state government brought in new laws that compel teachers to police school toilets; contact parents when their child raises a conversation about gender; and to never discuss sexual orientation unless it is “developmentally appropriate”.
These came into effect at the same time as laws that will see doctors who provide gender affirming care to anyone under the age of 19 face up to 10 years in prison.
This suite of policies, which are sitting drafted and ready to go in other conservative voting states, have been dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” laws.
And that’s why I knew I had visit the the Magic City Acceptance Academy.
Popular with parents, reviled by political opponents
This secondary school has been a haven for children in Birmingham, Alabama, who have not felt supported and cared for enough to learn in other schools.
It is a passion project of founding Principal Dr Mike Wilson, a man with almost 30 years experience of teaching in local schools.
He had to fight for years to get the legal charter that made it an approved school, but now the Acceptance Academy is a space where young people can embrace education – and themselves.
Around 30-40% of the students are LGBTQ and attend the school because of its affirming and inclusive approach.
This environment has appealed to parents who want to know their children are being educated somewhere that will care for them, no matter what.
They are on their way to their 400th student, with a long list of people wanting in.
It is perhaps no surprise that this school has found itself the subject of the collective imagination in Alabama.
This reached a fever pitch when photos featuring children who attend the school were recently used in a television attack advert by a Republic candidate for Governor.
Angry about a drag event being held in the school, candidate Tim James said it was time to “fight back” in a broadcast advert that tapped into rising anti-trans rhetoric.
Tim James, an Alabama politician who ran for Governor this year, incited his supporters to trespass on MCAA (my school, an LGBT affirming charter school) campus and harass us during one of his rallies. We are CHILDREN. This has gone too far. https://t.co/4HExl0eghs
— rory (he/him) (@itsroryori) June 5, 2022
The school has since beefed up security, after noticing people driving slowly past during the day and receiving threatening voicemail messages.
A lesson and a warning on LGBTQ protections for Scottish schools
So what did I see there?
I saw classes capped at 20 students, meaning teachers could give everyone the nurturing attention that they needed in order to learn.
Posters encouraged students to work together to achieve the maths knowledge required to take them to the next level.
I saw a history class that uses Funko Pops to increase engagement.
And I read post-its on a wall, from a session where students were asked about a time they had felt marginalised and judged.
Mostly, what I saw was a school that was determined to uplift and empower young people, whatever their background, so they could learn and make something of themselves.
And I saw a community being played by politicians who have made cynical judgments about what might get them ahead.
Compassion, understanding and safety should be something we seek to provide for every young person in every school.
At a time when it feels like we are being encouraged to pick a side and monster those on the other, the Magic City Acceptance Academy is a beacon of hope to Alabamians and a stark warning to Scotland.
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