A Letter to the Editors

Dear Guadalupe Orozco and Jordan Scott,

I am a 10th-grade student and a member of Pride Club. I’m writing this letter because a lot of us in Pride Club have been feeling hurt and frustrated by some of the recent opinion pieces in your “Just A Thought” section from your April 2025 issue.

I know your goal is to start conversations and share different points of view—and I respect that. It even says in your mission that the newspaper is supposed to encourage “active, constructive, and respectful conversation” and “raise awareness.” That’s why it’s been disappointing to see articles that don’t feel respectful at all, especially toward LGBTQ+ students like us.

Some of the things written, like “You can’t change your gender” and “God made us male or female and nothing else,” are more than just opinions—they’re harmful. When those kinds of statements are printed in a school paper without any counterpoint or conversation, it doesn’t feel like open discussion. It feels like being told that our identities aren’t real, or that who we are is wrong.

What’s even more upsetting is that these messages make some students feel unsafe or unwelcome. School should be a place where we all feel seen and supported, no matter who we are. When people read things that deny our existence, it’s hard to feel like our voices matter.

I want to point out that not every article has made us feel this way. The article from October 2025, “The Paradox of Religion and Homophobia,” was actually a great example of respectful writing. The author said something like, “Even if it conflicts with your beliefs, you can still respect people as people.” That’s the kind of message that brings people together instead of pushing them apart.

We also feel like there hasn’t been enough representation of LGBTQ+ voices in the paper. Most of the opinion pieces seem to come from the same kind of viewpoint—often religious or against LGBTQ+ people—and that leaves the rest of us feeling ignored or misrepresented.

We’re not trying to say people can’t have opinions. But when those opinions are based on misinformation or used to justify disrespect, they stop being helpful and start being hurtful. It’s hard to have a respectful conversation when one side isn’t really being heard.

That’s why we’re asking for a chance to talk. We’d really like to meet with your team, with both of our advisors present, and have a real conversation about this. We think it could help us all understand each other better and create a safer school environment for everyone.

If you or anyone on your team wants to learn more about LGBTQ+ issues, our Pride Club advisor, Ms. Lepore, is always willing to talk. You can reach her at LLepore@rialtousd.org.

Thanks for reading this and hopefully considering our side. We’re not here to argue—we just want to be seen, heard, and treated with the same respect as everyone else.

Sincerely,

Dylan Montes (he/they)

Contact: dylanm7989@rialtousd.org

Pride Club, Vice President

Rialto High School