The Fight (10 page)

T

he news we heard about the school board was kind of ho-hum when it came. They settled the lawsuit and kept the changed language about not convincing students and “affirming dignity.” No one was sure if that would make a big difference.

Then we got better news.

“Ms. Lopez asked the principal to find another adviser for the GSA due to her busy schedule,” Salazar told us, beaming. “And when it came up at the staff meeting, no one else volunteered except me.” We all cheered.

“And the next staff meeting will be trainings to help teachers learn how to deal with bullying, especially bullying of GLBT kids or kids who others think might be gay,” he told us. “All the district schools have to do these trainings, and I get to help organize it.”

“About time,” said Zoe dryly.

“Finally, GSAs were specifically mentioned at the last school board meeting as being allowed in all district middle and high schools,” Salazar finished.

“I bet Mrs. Walton didn't like that,” I said.

“There was pushback, but it's so cut-and-dry legally that after the lawsuit they had to make it clear that principals can't block GSAs from forming,” Salazar said.

Everyone agreed that was good. Then we started talking about Mid-Winter Festival and whether it would be a good or bad thing to try to nominate Tyler for queen.

Afterward, Zoe offered me a ride.

“I kind of feel let down,” she said. “I thought it was going to be a big fight that we could win. Now we know we kind of won, hopefully things will get better, but it wasn't really us. It was the threat of lawsuits, not because they saw how right we were.”

I told her what my mom had said about setting something in motion.

“Yeah, my mom said something like that too,” said Zoe, chewing her lip. “I guess this is just how these things go in the real world. It's not like a fight at recess that you win or lose.”

She pulled into my driveway. When I got out, Zoe leaned over to look at me. “Oh, I meant to tell you—June said she thinks you're really interesting.” She smirked at me and threw the car into reverse.

Elizabeth Karre is a writer and editor living in St. Paul, MN.