Over the past several decades, our national and local community has been making great strides towards the inclusion and acceptance of all people. We still have a long way to go, but we are fortunate to have a country full of people trying to do the right thing. As of 2022, Illinois has put in place a number of laws that help protect the rights, dignity, and humanity of everyone.
For example, when marrying in Illinois, the happy couple is no longer obligated to use gender specific terms on their marriage license. This might feel like a small thing to some people, but for many others, this decision helps validate their personal identity.
In schools, Illinois has banned discrimination due to hairstyles. This also might appear to be a trivial decision, but for years, hairstyles have been restricted if they are not considered normal. As of January 1, 2022, no student is going to be told that representing their culture with a haircut is intimidating or unprofessional.
Another big change in schools is that all students now have five mental health days in which they get to ignore school without consequence and do whatever may be restorative for their mental health.
Mathew Morgan, a junior at Metea Valley High School said that “this chance to focus on yourself is extra important, especially after a difficult few years.”
Everyone has had their own personal struggles during this time. For that reason, giving students a chance to prioritize their needs individually will help them recover.
These past few years haven’t been easy, but it has helped show us what matters; people. And with the help of laws like these, we can begin to ensure that no one is forgotten.
