State Treasurer Helps Career Get Proud

Career High School sophomore Alex Alvarado struggled to hold back tears as he listened to the country’s first openly gay Black statewide elected official — and a fellow New Havener — advocate on behalf of transgender students like himself.

That was the scene Thursday as Alvarado and his Hill high school peers met and were inspired by fellow Hill native Erick Russell, among others, during the Legion Avenue school’s first ever school-wide pride assembly. 

The event took place on the first day of Pride Month and, according to Hill Regional Career High School Principal Shawn True, was designed to send a message encouraging students and staff to take pride in themselves, their relationships, and their community.

The event’s special guests included State Treasurer Russell, New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Superintendent to-be Madeline Negrón, PROUD Academy Executive Director and Founder Patricia Nicolari, and Mayor Justin Elicker. 

The idea for the school-wide event was dreamed up by the school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and organized by the GSA, GSA advisor Kathleen Rooney, and administrative assistant Jonathan Q. Berryman. 

“Everyday you teach us,” Berryman said to the students on Thursday. ​“One of the reasons we’re having this event today is because you have taught us that these conversations are important. That being able to see each and every one of our students as an individual who has a journey is important.” 

At the Thursday celebration, Alvarado presented Russell with a 2023 PRIDE visibility award.

Russell — a Westville attorney and former state Democratic Party vice-chair who became the first New Havener in decades elected to statewide office last November — reminded the students that you can be authentic and be successful. 

“I hope that soon we’re not celebrating all of these firsts,” he said. 

Alvarado, who is trans, said he’s been instilled with confidence and strength from his mom and grandmother, who he also described as his heroes. 

“I’ve been so endangered for so long,” he said. ​“Imagine being in danger your whole life.”

He said he understands why depression rates are so high in young children. ​“We’re referred to as not human, it’s like our lives don’t matter even if we are kids,” he said. 

Career student Leila Ayers asked Russell a few questions on behalf of the students Thursday. 

“What made you want to be in this position? And if you always wanted to be in this position, why in Connecticut?” she asked. 

Russell said while living in Connecticut his whole life he’s received so many opportunities. ​“It was never a question of me going anywhere else,” he said. 

He didn’t have plans, however, to run for office. He aimed to give back to his community. ​“I felt like this was a role I could combine my professional experience and my interest in serving the community and really bring a perspective to rooms that is not always heard,” he said. 

“Why do you think [of] the amount of anti-LGBTQ bills proposed [that is] already double more than last year and we’re only half way through 2023?” she asked. 

“This isn’t something new. I think when you look at attempts to separate people and demonize people for their differences, this is something that’s gone back a long time,” he said. 

He said the LGBTQ+ community has made fast progress over the years and because of that people are pushing back.

“I think what is terrifying about it is that people don’t realize that there are lives attached to this. This is not about policy all the time. This is not about just legislation. This is about seeing people’s humanity,” he added. ​“When you look at the trans community that’s under attack right now, trans kids particularly where they’re being talked about as if they’re something other than children.”

She then asked his thoughts on bills currently before the state legislature, like House Bill 6213, that ​“are against trans women athletes competing in women’s sports.”

“Taxpayer dollars that go to schools that fund sports is not about somebody winning a trophy. It’s about people learning how to work as a team. It’s about people building skills. It’s about people being able to explore things outside of just the classroom and finding what they’re good at,” he said. ​“And the idea that we’re going to weaponize these programs that are designed to help kids to try to dehumanize them and say that you can’t be who you are to me is absurd.” 

“Is there anything that regular people can do about all the anti-LGBTQ legislation?” Leila asked. 

Russell reminded students ​“you voice is a lot more powerful than you realize. And when you use it collectively it’s even more powerful.” 

He encouraged students to speak out, be an ally, and write to legislators and talk to their families to express their concerns. 

Russell also briefly shared about his work handling Connecticut’s cash flow and pension funds. 

“I want to make sure that your futures are stronger and better,” he said. 

He shared about programming and policies he also works with like the CHET 529 college savings plan and CT Baby Bonds.

Growing up in New Haven, Russell said that his family didn’t have a lot and owned a small convenience store on Congress Avenue that he grew up working in. ​“That was how I learned about community. That’s how I learned some of the basics of managing money. But it’s also how I learned about hard work,” he said. 

“It’s also really about addressing generational poverty,” he said. 

In brief remarks, Mayor Justin Elicker too highlighted that there have been 79 anti-trans laws passed this year around the country. 

He encouraged students to correct divisive comments they hear in the community.

“We are going in the right direction and it is because unlike other places out there we embrace everyone. No matter what you look like. What your economic status is. Whether you got documents or not. No matter who you love. We embrace you and that makes us strong,” he said. 

Negrón, who will step into the role of superintendent in July and who was previously a teacher and principal at Career, encouraged students to ​“know who you are at your core” and to be unapologetic. 

“That is what makes you unique. That is what makes you different from other people; that is where your richness comes in,” she said. ​“Do not ever, ever, ever let other people [tell you] that you are less than, because you are not.” 

She shared her story as a Puerto Rican migrant who was flooded with messages that ​“you are less than.” She pushed through and over those obstacles of hate and discrimination. 

Nicolari shared her story as a gay teacher in Ansonia for 30 years.

“For 15 years I was apologizing for being less than,” she said.

She was harassed by students and had her car vandalized just for being suspected of being gay. 

After coming out in her community in 1997 she said she realized she made her school a safer place. ​“I went into school, best day of my life,” she said. 

Students told her that they had family members who were gay. 

“Because as adults we also need a safe place to work,” she said.

GSA sophomore students Josh Burgess, Sage Cavallo, Alex Alvarado, and Ja’sai Dennis spoke up about their excitement around the successful Thursday celebration. 

They also expressed hope that adults could focus their attention on bigger issues like global warming, plastic in the ocean, oil drilling, and guns in schools rather than dehumanizing the LGBTQ+ community. 

After the assembly the GSA students handed out free pride-themed goodie bags to Career students. 

“It’s mandatory to go to school so we should at least be able to be visible and seen,” Dennis said. 

Alvarado added that learning about and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community helps to build up all communities, especially those that have not traditionally been accustomed to accepting gender and sexuality differences. 

“Why would you not want a school to be a place where kids can come as themselves,” Alvarado added. 

For words of advice to fellow students the GSA said, ​“be courageous,” ​“Don’t let people tell you who you are because you know you best,” ​“Love yourself,” and ​“Don’t hate or dehumanize someone that you don’t understand.”