On Thursday, April 13, the Arlington School Committee will hold a hearing on the district’s Grade 4 & 5 Human Growth & Development curriculum in response to a formal complaint by an Arlington parent objecting to the fact that the curriculum is inclusive of transgender and gender diverse youth.
PLEASE JOIN US in attending that meeting to express support for the updated curriculum, which brings Arlington’s health and wellness curriculum in line with recommended national standards.
On Thursday, April 13, 2023, the Arlington School Committee will hold a hearing in response to a formal complaint about the district’s Grade 4 & 5 Human Growth & Development curriculum that has been filed by an Arlington resident. The resident objects to the fact that the curriculum is gender inclusive.
To see the Arlington School District’s February 9, 2023 presentation to parents about the updated Grade 4 & 5 Human Growth & Development curriculum, please click here.
Below is the testimony that the Rainbow Commission submitted to the School Committee in support of the Grade 4 & 5 Human Growth & Development curriculum.
Dear School Committee Chair Kirsi Allison-Ampe and Committee members Liz Exton, Laura Gitelson, Len Kardon, Jane Morgan, Paul Schlichtman, and Jeff Thielman:
Thank you for your on-going support of LGBTQIA+ students and families, caregivers, faculty, staff, and administrators. Your appointment of a liaison to the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission led directly to the creation of the district’s LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Leadership Task Force. Over the past two years, the Task Force has advanced important equity initiatives to ensure Arlington schools continue to create safe, inclusive learning environments for LGBTQIA+ students.
Town employees, elected officials, and residents take part in reading the 2022 Select Board Proclamation declaring June LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Arlington, Mass.
Select Board Chair Len Diggins acted as emcee for the reading of the Select Board’s 2022 Proclamation declaring that June in Arlington is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Thanks to our Proclamation readers: Rainbow Commissioner Andy Rubinson, Concord resident and candidate for Governor’s Council Mara Dolan, Ottoson Middle School student Jay, Director of Arlington Health and Human Services Christine Bongiorno, Arlington Youth Counseling Services Counselor Kim Goldsmith, LMHC, state Sen. Cindy Friedman, Envision Arlington Diversity Task Group Chair Rebecca Gruber, School Committee Chair Liz Exton, APD Chief Julie Flaherty, Rainbow Commissioner Lisa Krinsky, and Select Board Chair Diggins.
On Thursday, May 26, the Arlington Select Board declared that June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Arlington. The five-member board unanimously approved a Pride Month proclamation from the Rainbow Commission. Read the full proclamation below or download a copy here.
What do you get when you mix crosswalks with rainbow-colored chalk? A whole lot of fun, that’s what!
Our annual night of crosswalk painting has become so popular—we had 50 people of all ages out last year!—that we’ve expanded this year to three nights in East Arlington, Arlington Center, and Arlington Heights!
We will be in…
Arlington Center on Sunday, June 5 from 7:30-10:30pm painting the crosswalk at the intersection of Mystic Ave. and Massachusetts Ave.
Arlington Heights on Tuesday, June 7 from 7:30-10:30pm painting the crosswalk at the intersection of Park Ave. and Massachusetts Ave.
East Arlington on Thursday, June 9 from 7:30-10:30pm painting the crosswalk at the intersection of Lake Street and Massachusetts Ave.
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 12 we will celebrate LGBTQIA+ Arlington Pride from 2-5pm at Town Hall Gardens. We’ll be giving out Rainbow Commission swag and playing music. There might even be some karaoke! After two years of pandemic zooming, we can’t wait to get out and socialize with you! (This event will be held RAIN OR SHINE! If it rains, we can move indoors to Town Hall.)
For a listing of other LGBTQIA+ Pride events taking place in the Greater Boston area, see our post.
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 12 we will celebrate LGBTQIA+ Arlington Pride from 2-5pm at Town Hall Gardens. We’ll be giving out Rainbow Commission swag and playing music. There might even be some karaoke! After two years of pandemic zooming, we can’t wait to get out and socialize with you! (This event will be held RAIN OR SHINE! If it rains, we can move indoors to Town Hall.)
For a listing of other LGBTQIA+ Pride events taking place in the Greater Boston area, see our post.
Arlington, MA Rainbow Commission 