By Amy Moran, Ph.D. with Jeannette Sena and Henry Goodhue
Rainbow Connection first featured the activism of Jeannette Sena, her colleagues and their newly formed HEA LGBTQIA+ Alliance Committee in 2024’s February article titled, “Organizing for Change.” Since then, “The Alliance,” as they’re known, has organized annual events and union support structures to help ensure that school faculty, students and community members find strength in connection and partnership.
It all began when Sena—a 25-year occupational therapist with 22 years in Hillsborough Township Public Schools—connected with other LGBTQIA+ colleagues about feeling isolated from each other and uncomfortable being fully “out” on the job. Some even felt anti-queer microaggressions from past administrators. Sena knew that if faculty were feeling that way, students must be too, so she began taking steps to create change, along with Hillsborough Education Association’s president of 11 years and 21-year special education teacher, Henry Goodhue.
Strength with union inclusion
With other affinity-group committees being developed, Sena and Goodhue wanted HEA to uplift the diversities represented in their membership. They wanted to expand on GSA-style advocacy work, including faculty affirmation, broadened student support, and staff and community development. They knew that if this work functions under the umbrella of HEA, and by extension NJEA, then the work—through constitutional amendment—can continue no matter how leadership might change in the future. So The Alliance became union-acknowledged two years ago with Sena as the chairperson and four committee members each receiving stipends for their labors.
Queer-affirming events
Sena and her team host multiple strategic events throughout the year, supporting visibility and affirmation of LGBTQIA+ experiences within Hillsborough schools and the community at large.
October – Spotlight Queer Voices
In a rented local coffee shop, this invite-only space (for protective purposes) allows students to describe personal journeys going through Hillsborough schools as queer people.
March – “Connect 4 Community”
This annual event hosted at a Hillsborough school is where all people are welcome to gather, share food and soft drinks, and play the game Connect 4 while affirming queer faculty, students and the issues they face in schools. Goodhue helped Sena obtain FAST grants for up to $1,500 to fund game sets, pizzas, $20 gift card prizes and other event-enhancers.
May – Community Mental Health Fair
Knowing queer kids are at higher risk for self-harm, Sena tables at the fair to encourage LGBTQIA+ visibility and awareness of issues queer people face.
June – YMCA Pride Event Collaboration
The Alliance invites speakers from various queer perspectives, including trans alumni, queer teachers, teachers of queer history and others, with this year being a panel discussion to expand consciousness and compassion about LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Community involvement
Sena has connected with outside sources to help round out the programming she develops. Inviting a queer attorney and a queer psychology professor, along with inviting school administrators, allows for a breadth of demonstrated support that normalizes and affirms queer people and culture. Hillsborough’s mayor has a municipal alliance, which includes HEA representation and inclusion in the town’s parade.
Beneficial outcomes
The work of The Alliance has coincided with and helped cultivate various other queer-affirming elements throughout the school community.
HEA contract negotiations included analysis for gender-neutral language and parental rights.
Administrators included queer-affirmation in curricular documents in accordance with the LGBT-inclusion mandate.
NJEA UniServ provided Safe Space window clings displayed by teachers and administrators who asked for them.
Thank you to everyone in The Alliance
Amy Moran, Ph.D. is an out lesbian educator, leader and activist working to make education affirming and inclusive for all of her students and colleagues. Moran has taught middle school for 30 years and was a high school GSA adviser for 16 years.
“HEA LGBTQ+ Alliance shall advocate, educate, and support the queer students, faculty, and families within the Hillsborough community. It shall organize events and provide a safe space to gather, talk, and build community.”
– HEA Constitution