BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tapestry Charter School caters to students in grades K-12. Inclusivity is at the core of its mission. It’s why an LGBTQIA+ student policy is being developed.

One component of this policy will be bringing training and education on sexual orientation and gender identity into the curriculum to help meet the needs of students who identify within the spectrum and to educate the ones who don’t.

“We practice something called ‘mirrors and windows,’” Tapestry Charter Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kara Oliver-Perez said. “And in my practice of ‘mirrors and windows,’ I want people to have positive reflections of themselves. Because too often, marginalized and minoritized communities are looking outside of the window, and you might see a little bit of a reflection, but you’re trying to pattern yourself and your identity off of something that just doesn’t fit.”

Lately, there has been widespread debate regarding classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity, especially for younger children.

The subject gained national prominence with the recent passing of the Parental Rights in Education Bill in Florida, which prohibits this type of instruction and discussion in lower grade levels.

Language used in the bill like “age-appropriate” and “developmentally appropriate” is not clearly defined, which creates gray areas in larger conversations in the educational realm.

“It’s a part of our society,” Tapestry Charter literacy lab teacher Justin Moore said. “It’s a part of our real world. And for that bill to potentially blind them from that, it’s going to cause a lot of harm and ignorance, in a sense.”

An argument for sex and gender education in schools takes into account the time children spend in these environments and how, for better or worse, their experiences emulate what they may face in society.

“I think it’s really important just to feel like you’re normal in school,” Tapestry Charter 12th-grade student Jane Yaeger said. “I think you kind of want to fit in as a student. And if you’re ostracized for being gay or part of the LGBTQ+ community, then that would be awful for you.”

Among the most important teaching components, especially at Tapestry, is representation.

“I kind of feel like if I saw that one person early on who at least guided me or me at least just seeing them with the confidence and just being their true self, I think that would’ve helped me come out sooner,” Moore said.

“The more it’s normalized and taught from a young age, the more it’s normalized in kids’ heads,” Yaeger said. “And so it’ll be easier for them to accept it in other students and within themselves. If it’s taught, then it’ll be more normalized for everyone to accept.”

“It’s important that we allow children the space to identify themselves,” Oliver-Perez said. “We don’t give children enough credit. And I think that what’s important is we want to make sure that we’re preparing folks.”