Anna Pagan is hoping the new school year will bring what she believes are some long overdue changes to the way P.S. 20 addresses bullying and LGBTQ+ awareness. Pagan’s transgender son has faced multiple forms of bullying over the last two years since he started figuring out his transition.

 

On May 25, the seventh grader was hit by one of his classmates after school in front of fellow students and school staff. Pagan’s son, whose name she is not disclosing, had previously been bullied by the same child. Despite this, the school had tried to get the two to work through their differences. However, she said her son was not interested because the other student continued to use derogatory terms when referring to the LGBTQ community.

 

“My son is very advanced, you know? He’s very intelligent,” Pagan said. “So, he was like, you know, ‘That’s toxic, and I would rather not associate with somebody like that’.” Pagan said when the student in question found out why her son didn’t want to interact with him, he started cursing him one day, after school. She explained that her son tried to walk away from the situation, but it then turned physical.

 

Pagan said her son has been bullied by a certain group of students at the school since fifth grade, when he first started to figure out his transition. She said the group even went as far as making an animated video in which they set an image of her son on fire. Prior to this, she said her older child had also faced bullying at the school and was allegedly met with little support.

 

After the video incident, Pagan said she met with school officials and counselors and was told the students who made the video would have therapy recommended to them. She said she dropped the incident after that, but her son still continued to be bullied. The concerned mother said at a certain point, her son stayed quiet about the bullying because he didn’t want to have any more problems, despite being on the receiving end of slurs and mean comments from the students in question.

 

Pagan said the school principal had called her to let her know about the physical attack on her son, and therefore she assumed the school would act quickly in response. “And so, you know, I’m thinking things are going to get done, and time is passing and nothing’s happening,” she said.

 

According to Pagan, the administration did nothing to reprimand the other student after the attack. After waiting two weeks for the school to take action, she said she reached out to the administrators of the school district, but did not receive a response from them for almost two weeks.

 

Pagan said she believes the reason they finally responded to her was because they knew she was doing an interview with Bronx News 12 about what happened to her son. “So, now, you know, they’re contacting me and listening to me, and hopefully creating some changes,” she said.

 

She added that she has since had a chance to speak one-on-one with the district and tell them what she wants to see happen. “I did let them know my main concern is the bullying and the LGBTQ+ awareness and safety. I said, not just for my son but for all the kids, because my son is the first openly trans child in that school.”

 

She continued, “But I’m pretty sure there are other children who are trans, and they’re just not out. They don’t feel comfortable, you know, because of the bullying, or because the school hasn’t made it clear that they [the school officials] are a safety net for those kids.”

 

Pagan said she wants to see a more consistent, active effort put towards anti-bullying programs in the school. She said she has been in contact with “PFlag” and “The Trevor Project,” two organizations which work with the LGBTQ+ community, including LGBTQ+ youth about introducing awareness programs in the school and creating more support for impacted kids.

 

Pagan said her son wants to become an LGBTQ+ liaison to help support other kids in his school facing similar issues. She added that she would like to see a support group or peer counseling for impacted kids.

 

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DOE) spokesperson told Bronx News 12, “Every child deserves a safe and welcoming school to learn in, and any allegation suggesting that a school is otherwise, is taken extremely seriously. The Borough safety director, Bronx climate and culture manager, and superintendent’s office are working closely with P.S. 20 to provide additional support and resources.”

 

The DOE did not respond directly to Norwood News’ request for comment about Pagan’s specific case.

 

The Trevor Project can be reached via live chat, text or by phone via the TrevorLifeline on 1-866-488-7386. More information can be found on the group’s website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/.

 

PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. Ways to get help are also listed on Pflag’s website, which is https://pflag.org/needsupport.

 

Destination Tomorrow, the Bronx’s LGBTQ+ Center is located at 452 E 149th St 3rd floor, Bronx, N.Y. 10455, and can be contacted toll free on 833.DT.4LGBT, or on (646) 723-3325.