In this month-long celebration, LGBTQ+ History Month serves as both a mirror reflecting the past and a beacon guiding the future. 

     Senior Jules Leffel-Elliott gave their opinion as a pansexual and genderfluid individual. They stated that this month is important to them for various reasons, 

     “It’s a month where representation and history is able to be shown off so that it can give [the LGBTQ+ community] a chance to express themselves to society,” Leffel-Elliott explained.

     Being a part of such a community can change your views about basic life choices. 

      “It makes me realize that society is not accepting of a lot of different people and how that impacts a person when they don’t feel accepted, loved, represented, or anything like that,” Leffel-Elliott said. 

     Leffel-Elliott spoke on their opinion of LGBTQ+ representation in the media. There are more options when it comes to this type of media than in earlier years.

     “I think the representation is getting much better, considering that you can see that pretty much anywhere now, which a lot of people hate, but the representation you see makes a lot of people more open and comfortable in their own skin,” Leffel-Elliott explained. 

     Their experiences demonstrate one of many in the community. Every person’s story is different but the LGBTQ+ community is always there to support each other. 

     There is still an ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, but this month celebrates the victories and progress made along the way. Through education, awareness and empathy, a more inclusive world for all can be built. 

    One of the first events starting the LGBTQ+ rights movement began in the early 1960s; although, the existence of the community was long before this. The human rights center was founded in 1924 by Henry Gerber in Chicago, Illinois, CNN stated. This began as a starting point for activists to have a safe space within their city. 

     Later, in 1950, The Mattachine Society was formed by Harry Hay and was one of the first gay rights groups founded in the United States. Gay rights became targeted starting in the 1950s. 

     On April 27, 1953 the President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order which banned homosexuals from working in the federal government by claiming them a security risk. The 1950s began attacking homosexuals. With behaviors similar to today, it is evident that in over 50 years, people’s opinions have not changed. 

     With the start of the 1960s, Illinois became the first state to decriminalize homosexuality, to which they repealed their sodomy laws. CNN claims that the police raid on June 28, 1969 was the start of what was known as the gay civil rights movement. 

     Police raids began in Stonewall Inn which resided in New York City. Marches and protests were commonly seen within the movement, some peaceful, some having to retaliate from police brutality. 

     Every year the anniversary of the Stonewall riots is recognized with a march by LGBTQ+ community members in New York City. The event has been renamed as the ‘Christopher Street Liberation Day’ and is considered the first ever gay pride parade. 

     With states beginning to lift the bans on same-sex marriage, the first being on January in 1973 by Maryland, the United States is seeing big strides in the movement. 

     Being able to remember and recognize this history is important. 

     “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it,” George Santayana said. Without recognizing the history that follows the LGBTQ+ community, it just sets the community back. 

     One of the first federal gay rights bills introduced was on January 14, 1975. This bill addressed discrimination based on sexual orientation, which later went to the Judiciary Committee but was never brought up for consideration. In the later years Wisconsin became the first state to follow-up with this law by outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1982. 

     Stonewall National Monument was the first national monument to be constructed for the LGBTQ+ community, it was proposed in June of 2016. It was placed in and around Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn and the surrounding streets and sidewalks that were the sites of the 1969 riot. 

     President Barack Obama was the first president to publicly and openly support the freedom to LGBTQ+ couples to marry in 2011, stated ABC News. Obama helped the community gain many advantages.

    A few holidays that came with this, listed by the College of DuPage, was the recognition of the first National Coming Out Day which is observed on October 11. International Transgender Day of Visibility is on March 31 and was first recognized originally in 2009. This holiday was first created by Rachel Crandall in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of LGBTQ+ holidays celebrating transgender people. 

     On April 17 a Day of Silence is recognized as a protest to the bullying and harassment of the community. Students can take a day-long vow of silence to represent the silencing of LGBTQ+ students and their allies. 

     Additionally, there are specific holidays to recognize those who are a part of the community. Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, Bisexual Day is on September 23, Asexuality Awareness week is held in October or November, and Intersex Awareness Day is on October 26. Being aware of these awareness days allows all kinds of people to feel welcome to their communities and feel accepted into society. 

     Within the month of October, people can recognize the important LGBTQ+ figures in history. 

     Marsha P. Johnson is considered one of the most powerful leaders in the community. She was a drag performer and a transgender individual. Johnson played a major part in helping lead the 1969 Stonewall Riots. 

     Another important figure in the Stonewall Riots was Sylvia Rivera. She was credited with being the first to fight back and had been a part of many of the marginalized groups the riots were fighting for. 

     One of the first openly gay athletes was Billie Jean King, the Insider wrote. She was a professional tennis player, after she was outed in 1981. Even now, the first openly gay hockey player affiliated with the NHL came out in 2020. 

     Luke Prokop is contracted with the Nashville Predators but currently plays in the AHL (American Hockey League), which is the minor league team associated with professional teams. He might be soon promoted into the NHL team which would make history for the community. 

     Gilbert Baker was the creator of the pride flag. In 1978 he was asked by a friend to make a symbol that would represent gay pride, so Bakery sewed together a rainbow flag to which he said each color on the flag represents a part that was important to the community. 

     This flag was first shown on June 25, 1978, for Gay Pride Day in San Francisco. The friend of Baker’s that suggested he make the flag was none other than Harvey Milk. Milk was one of the first few openly gay politicians to be elected in California. He was on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors and became an outspoken LGBTQ+ activist and was assassinated in 1978 in City Hall over his beliefs. 

     Although there are a lot of positive reasons these figures should be remembered, there are many who have died due to their existence alone. 

     Brianna Ghey was a 16-year-old transgender girl from Cheshire, England. She was stabbed to death, in the open, in Culcheth Linear Park on February 11 of this year. Ghey was murdered by two of her 15-year-old classmates. 

      This murder is what sparked recent activism in the community as it shows anyone, no matter age, can exhibit discrimination. 

     Unique Banks was killed in a targeted mass shooting in Chicago on January 23, 2022. Zachee Imanitwitaho, a black transgender woman, was shot in Louisville, Kentucky outside of her workplace. KC Johnson was declared missing then found murdered only a day later. Jasmine “Star” Mack, another black transgender woman, was killed on January 7 in 2022. In total, 32 trans people were murdered in the year of 2022. 

     In this month of remembrance, there should be recognition for those who have sacrificed for the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, recognizing the events that led the movement to where it is today.

What also is concerning when considering an older candidate is their lack of prudence. It is very possible they are less engaged in long term issues, such as climate change, and will leave our generation to clean up any unresolved messes. 

     In a form of government where the people largely decide who will be president, why are many Americans unhappy with the age of candidates, saying they are too old when they elect them? 

     Grimm provided some insight about lack of representation in the USA. “I hate how one sided [American politics] are,” Grimm conveyed. “We have two parties, and it’s really the only thing we have. Like, any third parties have no chance at all.” 

     A third party president has never been elected: it remains true third parties have very little chance to become elected when put up against the two mainstream parties: the Democratic party and the GOP. 

      A common concern when mentioning a maximum age limit to run is expressed by Moyer.

     “I think the idea is interesting, but I don’t know how you would choose that number because there are so many variables,” Moyer expressed. 

     Rather than choosing an arbitrary number where potential candidates can no longer run, increasing tests with age will hopefully ensure increased confidence and efficacy in presidential candidates.

     Barter gives examples on what to test presidential candidates on, “I think there should be an age cap which should also be accompanied with a cognitive ability test.” 

     One of the most notorious aspects of the 2024 election revolves around former president Donald Trump’s felony charges. According to politico.com, Trump’s felony charges are as follows: 34 felony counts for issuing “hush money” payments to a sex worker in New York, 40 felony counts for hoarding classified documents and impeding efforts to retrieve them in Florida, four felony counts for attempting to overturn the 2020 election in Washington D.C. and four felony counts for his election interference from Georgia. 

     Someone with one, let alone many felony charges filed against them is not apt to run this country: how will a president enforce laws if they choose not to follow them? 

     Largely, the American people are not satisfied with the current presidential candidates. This is why it is vital to American democracy to take on the duty of educating yourself.

The high school’s girls field hockey team opened their rivalrous game versus Hawken by scoring half way through the first quarter. Stow battled throughout all four quarters, keeping the plays alive. This team has had a fair start to the season with their record being 3 wins and 5 loses before the game. Considering this, the team is optimistic about their games to come.

    Six of the players were interviewed before the game to gauge their feelings. When asked how they feel about the game, senior Emma Oshel responded, “I’m really excited, a little bit nervous, but I think we have a good chance if we play as a team.” Senior Mckenna Rice agreed with Oshel’s sentiment by adding, “Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be physical. I’m really excited and I really want to win.” Spirits were high, even though the team admitted that they were nervous for their upcoming match, they would put more effort than ever to work together as a team to beat Hawken. Senior Alyssa Walter admitted, “This is the one game I really want to win and we have a chance if we play right.” Rice continued to explain the reason why Hawken was such an important competitor to beat saying, “It was tough last year, they were mentally and physically draining.” The others agreed, mentioning the poor sportsmanship among Hawken which makes them a fierce competitor. With the game taking place at the high school’s football stadium at seven pm, the girls were ready to finally beat Hawken.

    The game opened up with the rivaling teams fighting for the ball in the middle of the field. The first quarter started out with both teams zero and zero until senior Angie Ilijevich scored on an open path. She managed to get ahead of Hawken and push past their defenders for a goal. Towards the end of the first quarter, number 30 from Hawken had the jump on Stow and scored. First quarter ended with the score tied at 1-1,

    Second quarter started out with a tied game and renewed spirits. Stow’s upset from the first quarter continued into the second as their defense was working harder than before. Hawken continuously tried to score as defender Oshel completed a tackle to hold them off. With only 2 minutes left of the quarter, Senior Aubrey Bottger was awarded a corner which gave them an advantage over Hawken. The two teams battled for the ball until the end of the quarter. Even through the multiple battles, Stow’s defense held strong keeping the game tied at 1-1.

     Quarter three began with Stow starting with the ball. This quarter was fairly unattentive until ten minutes left in the quarter Stow was awarded a corner shot. From here, this allowed Bottger to gain yet another advantage over Hawken. Bottger was able to switch the fields and get the ball into Hawken’s defensive zone. Minutes later Hawken ended up in Stow’s defensive zone and scoring, though this ended up being ruled no goal. With new faith in the game’s outcome, Stow came back out with their offense stronger than before. Hawken was awarded a corner which lead to a long battle in the middle of the field. With the third quarter ending in a tie, the final push to pull a win out from under Hawken was approaching fast.

     Stow came into the fourth quarter with determination. Rice battled through multiple Hawken players to keep the ball on Hawken’s side of the field. Stow was awarded a corner two minutes into the quarter. With this advantage, Bottger scored resulting in the score to be 2-1 in Stow’s favor. A corner pocket was awarded to Hawken.. Even considering this advantage, goalie Mary Barnes, junior, blocked a shot on goal. Bottger once again was able to pull away and switch the fields once again. Stow took a timeout with five minutes and fifteen seconds left of the quarter. Rice snatched the ball and hit it up to the middle of the field. Minutes later Hawken had control of the ball, scoring with only 57 seconds left of the quarter. End of the fourth quarter finishes with both teams tied 2-2.

     Considering the tied game, Stow and Hawken had to go into a 7 versus 7 player showdown. No substitutions are allowed and it lasts for 10 minutes, or until a goal is scored. Stow opened up by Oshel preventing a goal from Hawken. Within seconds, Hawken scored but it was once again ruled a no goal. Bottger snatched the ball, running up the far end trying to switch the fields. Hawken’s defense fought as they received control of the ball. Barnes blocked a goal, giving Stow another chance. Only three minutes left in the game, Hawken scored, giving them the win. This leaves the final score being 3-2 in favor of Hawken.

    With the game over, Coach Palma was interviewed and asked about her perspective on the game as a whole, “Hawken is one of our greatest opponents. Just last year we lost 12-0 to them, so the fact that we got to go into overtime with them, and we were able to compete with them was a huge win,” Palma said. Palma was very proud of her team by continuing to say, “I think this game was one of our better games that we’ve ever played, and that I’ve ever coached. I think at the end we just got very tired and that affected us a lot,” Palma explained. Ilijevich was questioned about her opinions about the team’s performance, “[The team performed] super good! We were passing super well which was one of our struggles at the beginning of the year but now it’s one of our strengths so that is amazing to see,” she explained. Bottger, who was another one of the two to score, gave her opinions about the game and the team’s performance during this game. She led off saying, “I feel like [the game] went well, we did really good communicating. We did good to keep hustling and I’m just really proud of us,” Bottger explained. With the team, overall, seeming happy with how they performed, this softened the blow of a loss to a harsh rival team.