Pride supporters gather behind guard rails at the Capital Pride Parade in Washington D.C., June 6, 2018. Photo by Ted Eytan.
The month of June has called the gay community into the streets of Washington D.C. to celebrate and bring awareness to gay pride. Supporters crowd the streets dressed in rainbows, expressing their love for pride.
The tradition of pride events in Washington, D.C., began around the mid 1970s when a group of activists came together to bring awareness to this growing issue, according to the vapride.org. Ever since the idea of LGBT pride was introduced, Virginia citizens, and people from all around the world, have gathered in the streets of D.C. to show their support for the gay community.
“I think it does impact Virginians’ opinions, but at the same time I know we aren’t a perfect world,” Virginia resident Kalissa Azooz said. “For example, it’s still hard for many LGBT people to join the military without getting some sort of backlash.”
While President Trump was running for president, he said, “As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBT citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” according to the Washington Post.
Despite the numerous Pride events going on, hate crimes in D.C. increased 17% from 2017 to 2018, according to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. Not only are hate crimes increasing every year in D.C., but they are also ranked number 21 for the most hate crimes in a state, also according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.
The American Medical Association wrote that, “fatal anti-trangender violence in the U.S. is on the rise, and most victims were black transgender women,” according to the Washington Post.
Generation Z–those born between 1997 and 2012–voters interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. said climate change is the single biggest issue that will decide their votes in the 2020 election.
Climate activists spoke at American University on June 20. (Photo by Natalia Cano)
The older members of Generation Z cast 4.5 million ballots in the 2018 midterm election, representing 4% of all votes, according to the Pew Research Center. By 2020, their impact could be even more powerful, when they are projected to comprise 10% of eligible voters.
“It’s time to wake up,” Ryan Cullen Barto, 20, said of younger generations facing the 2020 election.
These young voices see the upcoming election as an opportunity for change, and climate change is something they see as urgent.
Nadia Nazar, the 17-year-old co-founder of thisiszerohour.org, is very passionate about encouraging Gen Z to use their power to vote next year. She wants a great president, but also someone who will be a leader on climate change, and she believes young people need to understand what’s at stake.
“You’re voting for your life and for the sake of this country,” said Nazar, who lives in Baltimore. It “is important for our generation.”
Citizens Climate Lobby, a grassroots environmental organization, tweeted Thursday morning, the day after the first Democratic Presidential primary debate, that: “Last night’s disappointing treatment of #climatechange at the #DemocraticDebates underscores the need for a separate debate on the issue.”
A grassroots environmental organization wants a separate debate dedicated to climate change. (Photo courtesy of Twitter)
Meanwhile, younger citizens who still will be too young to cast a ballot next year say when they can vote, climate change is their main and overarching concern.
Not being able to vote next year, Annelise Bittenbender, 16, from Leesburg, Virginia, worries that her voice won’t be heard.
“I think it could potentially make or break the rest of what’s going to go on in the world,” Bittenbender said of climate change.
“This election could potentially make or break our earth so me not being able to vote stresses me out ’cause I just wanna try to help as much as I can but not actually having a say is difficult,” Bittenbender continued.
Among those statements, the American Geophysical Union wrote: “Human‐induced climate change requires urgent action. Humanity is the major influence on the global climate change observed over the past 50 years. Rapid societal responses can significantly lessen negative outcomes.”
Generation Z’s youngest members may not be able to vote next year, but they already are organizing and fighting to be heard about climate change.
Ethan Vandivier, 13, already is an advisory board member for Young Voice for the Planet. He spoke on a panel at American University on June 20, noting that the next election is going to determine not just leadership, but will frame debates and policy solutions for climate change.
“For new people who are trying to get involved, voting is very important,” Vandivier said. “That’s how you start. That’s where you start.”
The 2019 college admissions scandal has reinforced feelings of unfairness towards accommodations received by students with learning disabilities, and is likely to make it more difficult for students to receive the help they need, according to a member of the board of the Learning Disability Association of New York.
As a learning disability activist, Kathryn Cappella, who sits on the board, emphasized the decades-old debate about the fairness of modifications for those who need them, and how the scandal only added to the negative views about people with disabilities and the modifications they receive. The recent scandal did not introduce the complexity surrounding testing accommodations.
Celebrities including Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are ensnared in an admissions scandal that saw some students admitted to elite universities by lying about disabilities–among other infractions–to get extra time on the SAT and other college admissions tests, according to reports in The New York Times.
Students who have diagnosed neurological conditions often receive academic accommodations such as extended time on tests, a private testing room, or other changes based on the individual needs for each student. Twenty percent of children in the United States have one of these neurological conditions, which include dylexia, dysgraphia and ADHD, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Since news of the college scandal broke in Spring 2019, College Board, which administers the SAT, has emphasized its policies for students with accommodations, which some have seen as more restrictive and potentially exclusionary.
In an email from College Board to this reporter who inquired about the re-emphasis on accommodations policies, a link to a page explaining how to get accommodations was included. On this page, it explains that students need to complete a Student Eligibility Form and send in an official diagnosis of a learning disability. In some cases, a student may need a school verification.
Its website reads: “We want to know what the student’s disability is, how it is impacting them, and why they need the specific accommodation that they are requesting.”
“School verifications occur when a student receives and uses the accommodation for at least four school months,” according to the College Board’s website.
Many students, however, are not diagnosed with the learning disability until after that date has passed.
For people who require accommodations, they are a necessary part of their success on tests like the SAT. Some feel that people without disabilities don’t understand how tough it is for those diagnosed with an issue to complete tests without them.
Trent Powell, 17, of Bethesda, Maryland, receives accommodations for both ADHD and anxiety.
“The only reason why there’s extra time is because we have those obstacles to go over,” Powell said. “If I took the SAT without my extended time, I would have only gotten like five questions out of the 15 math questions.”
For students without disabilities, testing accommodations are seen as an unfair advantage.
In a 2008 study called “Perceptions of People with Disabilities: When is Accommodation Fair?” by Ramona L. Paetzold, students’ reactions to a dyslexic competitor receiving accommodations were in relation to the outcome of the contest. In other words, if receiving extra time won the competition after being given modifications, would the other competitors find that fair?
The results of the test proved the answer to be no. Despite believing the confederate had a disorder that would put her at a major disadvantage under normal conditions, students found it unfair to adjust these conditions. They believe that adjusting a test to fit an individual’s needs gives students with who need accommodations unearned benefits.
Maria Gramajo, 20, of San Rafael, California, though not believing this herself, understands how these people may feel. She recognizes the outward appearance of accommodations being advantages, but is quick to respond with a viewpoint similar to Powell’s.
Accommodations are “meant to create an equal playing field, not to put anyone in any sort of advantage,” Gramajo said.
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations say it provides equity. (Infographic by Gillian Blum)
This debate closely resembles the famous distinction between equity and equality. The image above helps to explain this distinction: Child A, a child with two hands, and Child B, a child with just one, have four cookies.
Equality is giving both children two cookies. At first glance, this option seems fair. Both children get the same number of cookies. However, since Child B only has one hand, she can only hold one cookie. In the end, Child A has an advantage since she can hold both of her cookies. Equity, however, would be giving both children two cookies, but also giving Child B a basket to hold her cookies. By giving Child B a basket, she and Child A both have the same number of cookies.
Paetzold’s study shows that most “Child As” would prefer equality, since it gives them exactly what they need, and is equal to everyone. Powell and Gramajo, on the other hand, find equity a better solution for these students – everyone gets what they need.
This debate is both ongoing, and ever-evolving. As Cappella emphasized, the 2019 scandal did not change society’s treatment of students with learning disabilities, but added to the pre-existing unfair view of accommodations held by many.
Officials with Capital Pride Alliance are considering what to do at next year’s Capital Pride Parade as attendees at this year’s event said they experienced sadness and shock after a gun scare.
Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, said he plans to work with the community and district leaders to make sure next year’s parade–the 45th anniversary one–is safe.
“We will take this opportunity to learn from our experiences this past year,” Bos said in a phone interview. “And, think about those organizations that were not able to participate because of the parade not being able to finish.”
The Capital Pride Parade has a long-standing tradition of celebrating the district’s LGBTQ community every June.
At 7:20 p.m. on June 8, police officers responded to a report of a “man with a gun,” according to a Metropolitan Police Department briefing posted on Twitter.
Although police said there was no evidence of gun shots, they did recover a gun at the scene and one man was arrested. Spotting the gun led a crowd of people to run in panic, and seven people were transported by D.C. Fire and EMS, the officer said.
A crowd celebrates Washington, D.C.’s Pride parade June 8. (Photo by Dylan Wooters via Creative Commons)_
Bos emphasizes the importance of acknowledging everyone’s voice in the LGBTQ community, noting he hopes to help those who experienced fear and want to march again while also taking this opportunity to recognize the spirit of the Parade.
“Nothing discounts the fact that the situation at the parade was unfortunate,” Bos said. “It is not something that we want anyone to experience again.”
Olyvia Mugweh, 20, a rising junior at American University, attended this year’s parade. Mugweh recalled walking towards the crowd, looking for her friend and then all of a sudden, everyone was running in a panic. She remembers thinking that no one really knew what was going on.
“Somebody said ‘They’re shooting, they’re shooting!’ It was chaos,” Mugweh said. “It was supposed to be a celebration of love. The atmosphere changed from love to hate.”
The gun scare lead attendees like Mugweh and Roman Habibzai to wonder how long it is going to take for society to accept LGBTQ people, even though LGBTQ people were not targeted by the man, according to news sources.
Research from Pew Research shows that Americans are becoming more accepting of LGBTQ Americans. According to a 2013 Pew Research study, 92% of adults identifying as LGBTQ said society had become more accepting of them in the past decade.
Jane Palmer, 40, has been going to Pride since 1997. She did not go to the district’s Pride parade this month, but she did go to the one in New Orleans, which she said felt “more like a party.”
Palmer said her wife attended the Pride Parade in Washington, D.C. with the couple’s 2-year-old son.
“She said it was terrifying,” Palmer said.
Pride means different things to different people.
Habibzai, 19, an American University student, said, “Pride, to me, means the ability to just set everything aside for once and have it be okay to be a normal human being.”
Habibzai went with some friends from American University. He left before the gun scare. He notes how a huge chain of fearful events can affect a whole community.
“It is really scary to think that anyone could become a victim,” Habibzai said. “Attacking one person is like attacking a community.”
Bos has a similar definition of Pride.
“Our goal for Pride is to be seen and to be heard,” Bos said. “It shows the importance of us coming together, making sure that we aren’t just doing this in June, but that we are speaking out and supporting each other every day of the year.”
Students interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. said they are frustrated and anxious about the almost daily occurrence of active shooter drills, which have been on the rise at public schools over the last two decades.
Meanwhile, researchers are divided over whether the drills actually add to teenagers’ anxiety or are needed to help students understand how to cope with the threat of a shooter at school.
Eric Perless, 20, a student at American University, recalled his experience with lockdown drills as a teenager.
“We would have active shooter drill lockdowns once every two months,” Perless said. “It was scary especially since sometimes they didn’t tell us it was a drill so it was definitely traumatizing.”
In remembrance of Columbine’s deadly shooting of 1999, students nationally protest school gun violence on April 20, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fleshman courtesy of Creative Commons)
Colton Browder, 18, a student at the University of North Carolina, also recalled active shooter drills at his high school.
“Our lockdown drills at our school were horrible procedures,” Browder said. “I remember thinking that the lockdown drills weren’t even helpful to prepare you for an actual active shooter.”
In Washington, D.C., school leaders have a School Emergency Response Plan and Management Guide, signed in 2009. It says that drills are “essential to practice” to familiarize school personnel, staff and students with what they would do in case of a natural disaster or “manmade” threat.
School shootings in America have become almost a common occurrence and so have active shooter drills.
In a 2018 master’s thesis from California State University, researchers wrote: “The research found that participants, on average, are moderately anxious about the possibility of an active shooter situation at school and their internships.”
Other research from the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry written by Dewey Cornell, a professor at the University of Virginia, stated that: “Massive public attention to school shootings has created the misperception that schools are dangerous places, even though crime statistics show that schools are one of the safest places in the United States.”
Ana Ferrer, 19, a student at the University of Puerto Rico, had a school shooting threat at her school and was scared to attend school because of this.
“It made me feel uncomfortable to know I couldn’t go to my own university,” Ferrer said.
Brittani Riddle, a staff member at American University, said she’s never been in an active shooter drill, but she understands the fear and the potential impact of drills on mental health.
“I think it may unfortunately cause a sense of fear, but it also teaches people to be mindful that things can happen because unfortunately this is the world that we live in,” Riddle said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7.4 percent of high school students in 2011 reported being threatened or harmed with a weapon on school grounds. Those day-to-day events are what Cornell writes that school safety should prioritize.
“School safety should focus on the everyday problems of bullying and fighting,” Cornell wrote in the 2015 study.
Metro commuters from Maryland to Virginia will be affected by scheduled track maintenance and station renovations, and while they saw no fare increases this year, several said it’s still too expensive and doesn’t take them where they need to go.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the agency that oversees Metro, is spending $1.5 billion on renovations in Fiscal Year 2020, part of a larger $9.2 billion effort to get Metro back on track, according to public records on its website.
People take the escalators to the metro metro, (Photo by Joel Lev-Tov)
Those expenses and long-term sustainability were called into question by a 2016 master’s thesis in economics by Jasmine Simone Boatner who wrote that Metro was not economically viable, and that increased fares were leading to decreased ridership.
“In its current form, the Washington Metrorail system does not seem economically viable,” Boatner wrote in her thesis for Howard University. “With steadily declining ridership, continuing fare hikes to address the budget deficit is bad economic policy.”
Metro did not respond to two phone calls and four emails seeking comment for this story. In response to one of the emails Ian Jannetta, Metro spokesman, wrote on June 21, “Got it, thanks.”
Christopher Tyree, 32, lives in Fort Washington, Maryland near National Harbor. Tyree, a security contractor who was working at American University, drives rather than taking the Metro because, he said, the Metro doesn’t get close enough to home. He said he drives even though traffic in the district is “hell.”
“It’s very rare that I use public transportation,” Tyree said.
American University in Washington, D.C. tries to help its students with transit affordability.
Metro began offering in 2016 what it called a U-Pass, a program to make transit more affordable for students. WMATA says students pay the equivalent of $1 per day.
Prince Hyeamang, 20, uses public transportation daily, but said he would “definitely not” use public transportation without the pass.
Hyeamang, who graduated in May with a master’s in public policy, just bought a car. He said planned to use it in places where it is inconvenient or impossible to use the Metro, like in Maryland and Virginia.
“I would take the metro where I can’t drive, for example, the middle of the city,” Hyeamang said.
Kyle Cleary, 17, disagreed.
He said that Metro’s cost was not an issue for him. He said he uses Metrobus to commute to his high school and takes Metrorail to commute into the district.
Cleary uses Uber, only “when I don’t have any other method of transit.”
Quincy Arrington, 37, said that Metro was “really trying to oppress poor people” with its pricing. He compared the district’s rail system with others in New York City and Chicago that use a flat-fee system.
Boatner’s thesis noted that average fares for one ride in Washington, D.C. are $2.48. She noted in her thesis that low income riders often are pushed toward Metrobuses, which she wrote are more affordable, but which also are “raising concerns of a classist system.”
College students at American University in Washington, D.C. agreed that the study abroad process on their campus is affordable and accessible.
Study abroad programs offer students the opportunity to travel the world and engage in unique experiences while enrolled in school.
American University has one of the most robust study abroad programs in the country. Sara E. Dumont, executive director of American University’s study abroad office, said approximately 65 to 70 percent of students will study abroad.
Paige Goldstein, 20, a rising junior at American University, is going on a study abroad experience to Berlin, Germany in August.
The scholarships she receives as part of her regular financial aid package carried over, making the cost of the program similar to the regular price she pays for tuition. She said she was fortunate to be approved for her preference of a homestay, which means she will be living with a German family.
For Goldstein, studying abroad in college was “never something that was an if, but always a definite.”
A sign on American Unversity’s campus. (Photo by Hannah Fedorov)
American University’s numbers are much higher than the national average. Nationwide, 10.9 percent of undergraduate students in the United States study abroad, according to an Open Doors report featured in Inside Higher Ed.
One of the first things students consider when thinking about study abroad is cost.
Emily Matura, 21, a student at SUNY Geneseo in upstate New York who is spending the summer in Washington, D.C. for an internship, said that she had applied for a summer study abroad experience, but the account she used to pay regular tuition did not cover the cost of the program.
Dumont agreed that affordability is an issue for all students, thus it is the job of the study abroad office to make these experiences affordable to students of diverse backgrounds. According to Dumont, “the biggest key is that the university has to set up an administrative system to allow students to use their financial aid.”
Accessibility to a variety of study abroad experiences is another crucial aspect of a reputable study abroad program. The study abroad office at American University offers programs at universities around the world with courses available in nearly any subject matter, the majority of which count toward credit for graduation.
Amanda Luthy, 22, a recent graduate of American University, went to Prague, Czech Republic in the fall semester of her junior year. She said the application process was easy, and her abroad counselor was a valuable resource, introducing her to the opportunity to study at one of the oldest film schools in Europe as a film major.
She was fully kept up to date on all deadlines and paperwork she needed to complete by her counselor, starting six months prior to her departure.
Luthy’s biggest recommendation for those considering study abroad was to conduct research on a destination before traveling there, to be aware of expenses not covered by tuition once there. Because there was no dining hall on her program, Luthy felt “strapped for cash,” as she had to be able to afford all her own meals.
A study abroad experience will help you “learn to become comfortable with the uncomfortable and adapt quickly, which will likely translate into the rest of your life,” said Luthy.
People interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. have taken action to be more eco-friendly in order to avoid future environmental damages.
Ben Davis, 22, a rising senior at American University, discussed how the he fights for more structural change in the environment. Differing from his previous years, he concluded how he recycles and composts more due to the growing attention in the media.
“Though it costs more, it will be worth it in the long run,” said Davis, who identifies as an environmentalist.
According to NASA’s global climate change website, “the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.”
Ryan Barto, 20, a rising junior at American University, wants to continue spreading the word about climate change.
“Most people, for example, don’t know that bottle caps cannot be recycled,” Barto said.
Bins in Seattle. (Photo by Joe Mabel and courtesy of Creative Commons)
In his workplace, The Davenport Coffee Lounge at American University’s School of International Service, he pointed out that they no longer use plastic straws.
“I try to do fun little eco projects, because re-useable items tend to be costly,” Barto said.
Jessica Simms, 38, who lives in England, does all in her power to be more eco friendly, even if it requires the extra effort. Simms makes her changes by using public transportation.
“If people were educated and knew how cheap and easy it was, there would be a greater difference,” Simms stated.
Louisa Frieling, 22, an American University senior, recycles regularly at home and informs others that climate change is an issue.
Frieling stated that there is an easier and cheaper access to things such as plastic water bottles as opposed to a re-useable one.
“I wish it was cheaper to be more environmentally friendly,” Frieling said.
Kathleen Kearmey, 46, said she tries to be mindful and do little things to help.
“I read a new study saying how predictions for climate change are far worse than shown to the people,” Kearmey said.
“We need someone in a position of leadership to do something soon, because as individuals we cannot do enough,” she continued.
Charles Mulford, 68, stated how the garbage companies “pushed” recycling. Having a separate bin, and a different day dedicated to recycling, forced people like Mulford to recycle.
Richard Clrik, 83, stated “recycling comes automatically when you live in the city.”
Acceptance of LGBTQ people in the United States is on the decline among people aged 18 to 34, according to a 2019 GLAAD report.
That means many young people who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender or gender non-binary are dealing with the consequences of that homophobia. Many also face racism.
“GLAAD announced the findings of its fifth annual Accelerating Acceptance Index, a national survey among U.S. adults conducted on GLAAD’s behalf by The Harris Poll,” according to GLAAD’s website.
“Importantly, however, this year’s Index found the number of young Americans ages 18-34 who are comfortable across all seven scenarios dropped from 53% to 45%, the second consecutive year that this age group has shown a drop,” GLAAD’s
A person protests against the Westboro Baptist Church. (Photo by andendquote courtesy of Creative Commons)
website says.
Fear is born of ignorance, ignorance is born from lack of education, and discrimination is born from fear, according to citizens of Washington, D.C. interviewed this month in the Tenleytown neighborhood and on American University’s campus.
“I think the cause of discrimination is fear and lack of understanding that leads to unnecessary hatred,” said Brianna Fowler, who was interviewed about discrimination at a Starbucks in the Tenleytown neighborhood of northwest Washington, D.C.
Many factors tie into causing discrimination, and fear and lack of education seem to be the largest ones, especially regarding homophobia and racism because LGBTQ and race are both things that can be blatantly seen. Discrimination is psychological—when you don’t understand something, you often develop fear, and then act on that fear through fight, flight, or freeze, according to “Exploring Your Mind.”
That resonated with Megan Eigsti, who sat reading at a cafe in Tenleytown.
“Discrimination is caused by fear of people who are different and fear of losing your place in the social system,” Eigsti said. “It’s a misplaced fear.”
However, there are actions that can be taken to improve, to help to stop and prevent discrimination, according to those interviewed.
“Discrimination comes from ignorance,” said Marley Brookes, who was on American University’s campus. “If people understood others and put themselves in their shoes, it would go a long way.”
Some D.C. citizens say that discrimination is on the rise, while others say that it’s steadily getting better. Something many of them agree about is that it absolutely can and needs to stop as much as possible.
“If I had the power to do anything, I would make sure to not discriminate,” said Gabby Bennet, 14. “And I would educate them so that they could no longer be ignorant.”
Independence Day is quickly approaching and people in the metropolitan area have different plans.
Becky May, 19, will be headed home to New Jersey for the summer holiday. May does not decorate or buy fireworks for the celebration.
While May is not a native Washingtonian, she “knows it’s hectic” on the National Mall and will be watching fireworks from a beach in New Jersey.
Nicole Narvaez is going to the National Mall to watch the fireworks display, which includes over 6,500 shells, according to the National Park Service.
July 4 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Wayne Huang courtesy of Creative Commons)
The National Mall will be enclosed with over 18,000 linear feet of fencing and have 350 portable toilets to accommodate the thousands of people that attend the display each year.
Dominic Gatti, 20, thinks the Fourth of July is more of a celebration and party than anything else.
“I’m going to my frat party then probably to the Mall for fireworks,” said Gatti.
Narvaez “might be celebrating with friends,” and believes the holiday is about both celebration and remembrance.
Nadine Hallak plans to attend a barbecue with friends on the fourth. She will be watching the National Mall fireworks on television this year.
