>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LT.

GOVERNOR'S CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS ABOUT LGBTQ IN SCHOOLS, AND WHAT'S MADE AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS ON THE SUBJECT, AND THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOLLOWING THREE DEATHS BY SUICIDE AT UNC CHAPEL HILL.

STAY WITH US.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FOR I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

JUST 3 DAYS BEFORE NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY, VIDEO SURFACED OF NORTH CAROLINA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON AT A CHURCH IN SEAGROVE DELIVERING A SPEECH THAT HAS OFFENDED MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN GENERAL PUBLIC.

HERE'S A CLIP.

>> I'M SAYING THIS NOW, AND I'VE BEEN SAYING IT, AND I DON'T CARE WHO LIKES IT.

THOSE ISSUES HAVE NO PLACE IN A SCHOOL.

THERE'S NO REASON ANYBODY ANYWHERE IN AMERICA SHOULD BE TELLING ANY CHILD ABOUT TRANSGENDERISM, HOMOSEXUALITY ANY OF THAT FILTH.

AND YES, CALLED IT FILTH.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT THAT I CALLED IT FILTH, COME SEE ME AND I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

>> IN THE WEEKS SINCE THIS VIDEO APPEARED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROBINSON HAS APPEARED ON LOCAL NEWS AND PRESENTED HIS OWN PRESS CONFERENCE TO REITERATE WHAT HE SAID, STAND BY IT, AND ATTEMPT TO CLARIFY THAT HE WAS OBJECTING TO THE PRESENTATION OF LGBTQ ISSUES IN SCHOOLS.

HE NAMED 3 BOOKS IN PARTICULAR THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARIES OF A FEW SCHOOLS THAT CONTAIN PICTURES AND SUBJECT MATTER HE DESCRIBED AS SEXUAL AND NEAR PORNOGRAPHIC.

GOVERNOR COOPER HAS CALLED THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ABHORRENT, AND SOME DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAVE CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

NO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE ISSUED ANY CRITICISM.

HOUSE SPEAKER TIM MOORE HAS SAID IN A STATEMENT TO THE N&O THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS CLARIFIED HIS STATEMENT, AND HAS SAID PLAINLY THAT HE WAS DESCRIBING THIS READING MATERIAL, NOT ANY PERSON OR COMMUNITY.

SO TO DISCUSS THIS CONTROVERSY, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TAMIKA WALKER KELLY, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US MISS WALKER-KELLY.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS CERTAINLY SAID THAT WELL HE SAID THAT THE IDEA QUOTE THAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT ABOUT CONCEPTS OF TRANSGENDERISM AND BE EXPOSED TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS IN THE CLASSROOM IS A BORE AND AND GETTING DOWN TO THAT SUBJECT WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE 3 BOOKS IN QUESTION THAT HE REFERENCED IN HIS PRESS RELEASE AND THEIR AVAILABILITY IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> WELL FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW TODAY, I CANNOT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE 3 BOOKS BUT I CAN SPEAK TO THIS.

OUR TEACHERS WHICH INCLUDE OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WHEN IT COMES TO SELECTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL THAT REFLECT THE UNIQUE AND DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION, AND THEREFORE OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE VARIED ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT WORK IS NOT DONE IN SILOS IT IS DONE IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARENTS SO THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A WEALTH OF MATERIAL THAT REFLECTS WHAT THEY NEED IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

THAT MATERIAL IF ANYBODY SEES IT, WHAT WOULD CAUSE THEM TO THINK - IT CAUSED ME TO THINK WHY IS THAT IN THE LIBRARY AT SCHOOL?

NOW IF SOMEONE DOES HAVE AN OBJECTION, A TEACHER, A PARENT, WHATEVER, WHAT KIND OF ACCESS OR AVENUES DO THEY HAVE TO GET THAT MATERIAL REMOVED?

>> SO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROCESSES ON THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL THAT ALLOW FOR THE REVIEW OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WHEN THEY COME TO SCHOOL.

THAT IS PART OF THE PROFESSIONAL WORK THAT OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS DO EVERY DAY.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS DO THE WORK OF REVIEWING AND WEEDING MATERIAL ON A YEARLY BASIS BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION THEY CHANGE ON A YEARLY BASIS, AND AGAIN THAT WORK IS NOT DONE JUST ON IN OUR SCHOOL LEVEL, IT IS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ENGAGING AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH EDUCATORS, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING BACK FROM EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE STATEMENTS AND HOW THEY CAN POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE TEACHER THE CLASSROOM IN THE STUDENTS?

>> SO THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSROOM, THEY REPRESENT THE BEST OF US AND THE HARMFUL WORDS OF OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DO NOT REFLECT WHAT NORTH CAROLINA IS AND WHAT NORTH CAROLINA CAN BE.

MY WORK AS AN EDUCATOR AND MY FELLOW EDUCATORS CAN ATTEST TO THIS IS THAT WE WORK REALLY HARD TO CREATE SAFE, AFFIRMING AND WELCOMING CLASSROOMS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THESE WORDS THAT WERE SHARED BY OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RAN COUNTER TO THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY AND THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE DOING ACROSS THE STATE.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE IMPACT OF HAVING HIM AS THE HEAD OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS.

HAS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE AND HOW YOU ALL ARE OPERATING IN IN TERMS OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE?

>> WELL, MY DUTY AS AN EDUCATOR, OUR DUTY AS TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE IS TO ADVOCATE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, ALL OF THEM HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND SINCE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SITS ON THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, HE SHOULD ALSO BE ADVOCATING THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT EDUCATION AS WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS USED HIS PLATFORM TO PUT STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN THE MIDDLE OF A POLITICAL WAR THAT UNDER CUTS THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS POINTED TO IS READING SCORES AND PERFORMANCE LEVELS SO WHAT WORK I WOULD THINK THAT MORE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON GETTING KIDS TO READ AND DO MATH AND PERFORM IN SCHOOLS AND MAYBE SECONDARY, YOU KNOW CONCERNS ABOUT THESE POLITICAL MATTERS.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ABOUT PROTESTS AGAINST WHAT HE HAS SAID, AND IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF RALLYING SUPPORT AGAINST IT OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NOT BEING TAKEN HEAVILY BY EDUCATORS?

>> SO OUR EDUCATORS ARE DOING THE WORK IN THEIR CLASSROOM BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE DIRECT IMPACT FOR STUDENTS LIE AND SO OUR EDUCATORS CONTINUE TO DO THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO DO THEIR WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO LET STUDENTS KNOW THAT THE CLASSROOM IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE NO MATTER THEIR ZIP CODE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND NO MATTER HOW THEY IDENTIFY.

IT IS OUR CONSTANT WORK THAT STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND SO WE STAND IN SUPPORT WITH OUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLASROOMS, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STATE CONTINUES TO BE WELCOMING PLACES FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S REMARKS HAVE NOT ONLY RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT OUR CHILDREN LEARN IN SCHOOLS ABOUT LGBTQ CULTURE AND COMMUNITY BUT ALSO ABOUT THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT OF THE WORDS WE'VE BEEN HEARING FILTHY GARBAGE ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO POPULATE AND WALK THE HALLS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I WANT TO WELCOME IN BRING INTO THE CONVERSATION REVEREND JEMONDE TAYLOR, RECTOR AT SAINT AMBROSE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN RALEIGH, DOCTOR STEPHANIE IRBY COARD A PSYCHOLOGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES AT UNC GREENSBORO AND ALSO VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR THE WAKE COUNTY CHAPTER OF NAMI THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.

DOCTOR COARD, I WANT TO OPEN WITH YOU.

NOW THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SURE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT HE DOES NOT HATE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THEY'LL FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, HOWEVER THE TEACHING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS INAPPROPRIATE IN THE SCHOOL'S.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> SURE FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU DEBORAH FOR INVITING ME IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

LIKE MANY, I AM OFFENDED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS.

ANY TIME YOU SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE'S LIVED EXPERIENCE, THAT THEIR LIFESTYLE, IT'S FILTHY, IT'S OFFENSIVE, IT'S HURTFUL AND IT'S SHAMEFUL.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE YOUTH AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE YOUTH NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND TO BE ABLE TO FEEL AS IF THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE VALID AND THAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE RESPECTED.

I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE BOOKS THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS UPSET WITH, BUT I DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BOOKS IS A PERSONAL MEMOIR, AND I KNOW IT WELL.

AND HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DISRESPECTING ONE'S LIVED EXPERIENCE?

THAT MEMOIR WAS WRITTEN BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE AUTHORS THOUGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH AND PERHAPS BE ABLE TO SPEAK THEIR OWN TRUTH.

AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE YOUTH THAT FEEL THAT THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES AND THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK THEIR TRUTH AND BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF.

I THINK SCHOOL IS AN IMPORTANT SYSTEM, AN IMPORTANT SPACE AND PLACE FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE.

>> LET ME STICK WITH YOU ON AUTHENTIC SELF FOR A MOMENT.

ARE YOU ABLE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO KNOW WHAT YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IS?

SOME ADULTS HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT.

>> YEAH, YEAH, I THINK IT'S A PROCESS NOT THAT YOU KNOW, COGNITIVELY CHILDREN ARE AT A STAGE OF REALLY UNDERSTANDING IN ANY REAL DEPTH WHO THEY ARE.

BUT IT'S A PROCESS AND I THINK THAT ANY CHILD SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES OR SEE POSSIBLE SELVES SHOWN AND MADE TO FEEL RESPECTED AND PROVIDED.

>> AND I WOULD THINK NOT JUST THEMSELVES, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY.

SO REVEREND TAYLOR AS VOCAL AS SOME HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO, IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO I THINK TO HEAR THE SILENCE IS WELL.

BLACK CHURCHES HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY SILENT IN SOME RESPECTS ABOUT LGBTQ COMMUNITY, WE SORT OF KNOW THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE IDEA THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MADE AT A CHURCH WHERE HE RECEIVED THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE DURING HIS SPEECH?

>> IT'S TRAGIC AND UNCHRISTIAN.

I WANT TO SAY WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION OF WHAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID WAS HORRIFIC.

YOU SIMPLY DO NOT DEMEAN PEOPLE.

CERTAINLY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALLS HIMSELF A CHRISTIAN, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE DURING HIS DAY THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCUSED HIM OF HANGING OUT WITH FILTHY PEOPLE.

HE HUNG OUT WITH LEPERS WHO WERE CEREMONIALLY UNCLEAN AND SEGREGATED, HE HUNG OUT WITH SEX WORKERS, PROSTITUTES, HE HUNG OUT WITH TAX COLLECTORS TAX COLLECTORS OUR DAY AND AGE WE THINK IRS, BUT A TAX COLLECTOR IN JESUS DAY WAS MORE LIKE A MURDEROUS DRUG DEALER, LIKE NINO BROWN FROM NEW JACK CITY OR AVON BARKSDALE FROM THE WIRE OR EL CHAPO.

THESE WERE THE PEOPLE HE HUNG OUT WITH, SO CALLED FILTHY PEOPLE, AND YET THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WENT AFTER HIM FOR THAT AND JESUS LOVED HIM AND JESUS DID NOT CALL THEM NAMES, RATHER THE ONES HE CALLED NAMES, WERE THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HYPOCRITES BROOD OF VIPERS AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SPEAK TWO FACES, I WOULD SAY DOUBLE TONGUE, TO SAY THAT HE SUPPORTS THE RIGHTS OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY BUT THEN CALLS THEM FILTHY, THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

HE'S CONTRADICTING HIMSELF AND I THINK THIS IS THE LAST -- ONE STATEMENT, THE CURRENT STATEMENT IN A LONG LINE OF OFFENSIVE STATEMENTS THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS MADE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE SILENCE, YES, THE SILENCE IS DEADENING.

THE BLACK CHURCH HAS BEEN CARING OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN SILENT.

AND GOD WILL JUDGE US FOR THAT.

GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH THAT IS MY VIEW BECAUSE WE SERVE A GOD WHO REACHED OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, AND THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN.

ALSO I THINK WE LOOK AT NOT ONLY WHAT THE LT.

GOVERNOR SAID, BUT ALSO IN MUSIC CERTAINLY THE LT.

GOVERNOR MADE A STATEMENT WITH THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE THAT REMIND PEOPLE THAT GOSPEL SINGER TYE TRIBBETT AND HIS SONG AT THE END SAYS GOD'S CALLING OUT OF HOMOSEXUALITY GOD IS CALLING OUT LESBIANISM AS PEOPLE ARE APPLAUDING.

AND SO THE BLACK CHURCH REALLY HAS TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THOSE WHO DO NOT CORRESPOND TO BINARY GENDER HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAND WITH THEM, AND YET, THE CHURCH I BELIEVE IS PUTTING A KNEE ON THEIR NECK AND THEY CAN'T BREATHE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REFLECTION AND THAT INSIGHT TOO.

TAMIKA LET MEGET TO YOU ABOUT JUST HOW THE NCAE AND THE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT DEALS WITH THE LGBTQ CULTURE WHERE THE SUPPORT IS FOR THAT CULTURE AND THAT AND THAT COMMUNITY.

>> YES, SO JUST LIKE WE WORK REALLY HARD TO CREATE SAFE AND AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, NO MATTER HOW THEY IDENTIFY, WE DO THE SAME WORK FOR OUR EDUCATORS FOR OUR ADULTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SAFE AND AFFIRMING WORK CULTURES AS WELL.

SO WE PROVIDE AS A ORGANIZATION AND OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR OUR EDUCATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SKILLS IN ORDER TO BEST SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR LGBTQ STUDENTS AND ALSO TO WORK WITH THEIR LGBTQ COLLEAGUES.

>> SO THEY'RE GETTING SOME SORT OF TRAINING CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING?

>> SO WE HAVE RESOURCES LIKE WITH THE GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE CLUBS WHERE STUDENTS CAN COME AND BE AFFIRMED.

WE HAVE ALSO READING RESOURCES THE EDUCATORS CAN USE AND WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES AS WELL.

>> WELL DOCTOR COARD, REVEREND TAYLOR, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FEAR.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE YOU THINK AFRAID OF ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO HOMOSEXUALITY, LESBIANISM, TRANSGENDERISM DOCTOR COARD.

>> SURE I THINK SIMILAR TO RACISM I THINK THAT WE ARE AFRAID OF HAVING VERY COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS.

THESE ARE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE AND I THINK THAT PARENTS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO ACCEPT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH THEIR CHILD IDENTIFIES OR BEHAVES, AND THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO STRUGGLE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONTROL.

>> CONTROL IS KEY.

THAT'S A HUGE ONE.

GO AHEAD.

>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO JUST SAY THAT CHILDREN ARE AWARE OF RACE AND GENDER TYPES OF ORIENTATIONS AND FEELINGS FAR EARLIER THAN WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN IF THEY FEEL DIFFERENT IF THEY FEEL SOMEHOW UNACCEPTED, IF THEY FEEL THAT SOMEHOW THEY ARE FALLING OUT THE BOX, OR OUT OF LINE OF WHAT MAY BE TRADITIONALLY ACCEPTABLE.

WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THOSE FEELINGS.

>> REVEREND TAYLOR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FEAR AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO OVERCOME IT?

>> PEOPLE TEND TO FEEL THAT WHICH THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR DO NOT KNOW.

AND MANY DENY THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW OR HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY.

WHAT WE DO AT SAINT AMBROSE BECAUSE WE WELCOME ALL, IS THAT WE HIGHLIGHT MAY WHICH IS MINORITY HEALTH MENTAL -- NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, AND IN JUNE WE HIGHLIGHT PRIDE MONTH AND IN PARTICULAR WHAT WE DO IN PRIDE MONTH IS WE PRAY FOR THE QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY AND WE EVEN LIFT UP THE NAMES OF THOSE TRANS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND ATTACKED AND WE DO A LITANY IN CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY WE OFFER THESE PRAYERS TO GOD WE OFFER OUR PRAYERS SO THAT WE MAY WALK ALONGSIDE GOD AND WORK ALONG JUSTICE AND LIBERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT BLACK LIFE MATTERS AND THE BLACK LIFE MATTERS AND THAT MEANS BLACK TRANS LIFE MATTERS BLACK QUEER LIFE MATTERS AND SO THE WAY WE ARE TACKLING FEAR AT LEAST IN OUR RELIGIOUS CONTEXT IS FIRST PRAYING, WHICH IS OFFERING THAT TO GOD, AND THEN PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN HELP DECONSTRUCT THESE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS SO KEY DOCTOR COARD, THE CONTROL AND REVEREND TAYLOR, JUST THE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE.

AND LET'S HOPE THAT THE INFORMATION FLOW CONTINUES IN THE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE AS WELL.

IN MANY WAYS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TOLERANCE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE AND CAN ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF LIFE BUT ALSO THIS PAST WEEK THE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY ARE MOURNING AS 3 UNC CHAPEL HILL STUDENTS TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES.

IN NORTH CAROLINA SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUTH IN NORTH CAROLINA 10 TO 18 NATIONWIDE SUICIDE DEATH RATES FOR BLACK AMERICAN GIRLS, AGES, 13 TO 19 INCREASED BY A 182% FROM 2001 TO 2017 AND THE RATE OF SUICIDE DEATHS AMONG YOUNG BLACK MALES INCREASED BY 60% FROM 2001 THROUGH 2017.

ROBERT TAYLOR, IT ALMOST GOES WITHOUT SAYING WE'VE ALL BEEN SUSTAINING A LOT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS.

HAVEN'T HAD THE OUTLET OF CHURCH WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER AS FAMILY MEMBERS AND HIS FRIENDS TO PROTECT THE WELL-BEING THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT THIS TIME.

>> CERTAINLY MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE FAMILIES OF THE STUDENTS AT UNC.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AN RA AT A RESIDENCE HALL AND ONE OF MY RESIDENTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND SITTING WITH THAT PERSON TRYING TO GET HER HELP.

ALSO REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A CHAPLAIN AT A BLACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DALLAS TEXAS SITTING ACROSS FROM A 5TH GRADER WHO HAD MARKS ON HER WRIST WHERE SHE HAD TRIED TO TAKE SCISSORS AND KILL HERSELF.

SO WE KNOW THAT SUICIDE IS REAL.

I KNOW THAT THE CHURCH FOR YEARS HAS TAUGHT THAT SUICIDE WASN'T A FORGIVABLE SIN, NOT SUCH.

THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL HAS CHANGED ITS TEACHING ON THAT.

I THINK THE BLACK CHURCH PLAYS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HISTORICALLY AS IT'S BEEN RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH, THE BLACK CHURCH HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN AFFIRMING OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO "JUST GET OVER IT" OR PRAY IT OUT OF YOU INSTEAD OF SEEKING MEDICAL HELP AND COUNSEL.

I REMIND PEOPLE THAT IF SOMEONE HAS A HEART ATTACK, THEY DON'T SAY PRAY YOUR HEART ATTACK OUT OF YOU, THEY SAY GO TO THE ER, AND THE SAME NEEDS TO BE TRUE FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THERAPY.

AT SAINT AMBROSE WE CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WE HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

I'M A PROPONENT OF THERAPY, I HAVE A FUND AT THE CHURCH WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO GET THERAPY AND CANNOT AFFORD IT THE CHURCH WILL PAY FOR IT, AND SO CERTAINLY WITH THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD OUTLETS, AND SO WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE LISTEN TO PEOPLE.

THERE ARE SIGNS THERE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET HELP AND TO DE STIGMATIZE MENTAL AWARENESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> MISS WALKER KELLY IN THE K 12 SYSTEM, WHAT KIND OF MENTAL WELL-BEING SUPPORT IS THERE FOR KIDS AND ALSO FOR EDUCATORS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM?

>> YES, AS A TEACHER WHO HAS LOST A FORMER STUDENT TO SUICIDE, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEEP THAT I'M DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND SO EVERY K 12 SCHOOL HAS ACCESS TO AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND DURING THE PANDEMIC WE KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TRIED TO INCREASE RESOURCES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

HOWEVER, IT IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH AND WE HAVE HEARD OVER ALMOST THE PAST 2 YEARS OF THIS PANDEMIC HOW WE NEED INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR FINAL BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR STATE LEADERS TO INCREASE FUNDING AND ALLOCATION FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SCHOOL NURSES, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE PLACES AND RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN GO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS, NOT ONLY THEIR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING IS IMPORTANT BUT THAT THEIR MENTAL WELL-BEING IS AS WELL AND OUR EDUCATORS HAVE HAD ACCESS TO SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES AND AN UNLIMITED BASIS, BUT OUR EDUCATORS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT OKAY.

BURNOUT IS REAL.

FATIGUE IS REAL BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREASED THE DEMANDS AND WORK RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE, WITH LITTLE TO NO HELP OR RECOURSE AND WE HOPE THAT OUR STATE BUDGET OUR STATE LEADERS WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT WITH THIS FINAL DOCUMENT.

>> WELL YOU MENTIONED BURNOUT AND I RECALL THAT OVER AT UNC CHAPEL HILL THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT HAS EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR A WELL-BEING DAY DOCTOR COARD, LIFE IS DIFFICULT AND THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

GOING TO BE TOUGH.

SO HOW DO WE BATTLE OR UNDERSTAND OR PUT INTO CONTEXT DIFFICULTY IN LIFE?

VERSUS TIME TO GO GET SOME HELP FOR YOUR MENTAL WELL-BEING?

>> WELL FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO SAY I THINK THAT CHAPEL HILL TAKING THAT DAY OFF AS A MENTAL HEALTH SORT OF WELLNESS CHECK DAY WAS COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT INSTITUTING THOSE ACROSS OTHER UNIVERSITIES AS WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE DONE THAT AT UNCG AS WELL.

FACULTY, STUDENTS, WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING.

AND I THINK THAT IT REALLY REQUIRES US TO BE FLEXIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE AND TO ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO GIVE VOICE TO THEIR EXPERIENCES.

>> BUT UNDERSTANDING ONCE AGAIN THAT COLLEGE IS TOUGH SO HOW DO YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN, TIME TO JUST KIND OF BUCKLE DOWN AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WHETHER IT'S THE WORKPLACE OR IN SCHOOL IN TIME TO GO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP?

HOW DO YOU EVEN AS A FRIEND HELP SOMEBODY TO SEE THAT?

>> YEAH I THINK IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING IN INTERMS OF COVID AND THE PANDEMIC I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY CAUTIOUS AND PROACTIVE, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE WHEN STUDENTS COME TO ME AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FEELINGS THAT THEY'RE HAVING OF FBEING DOWN, I TAKE IT MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE CONTEXT THAT WE'RE LIVING IN.

AND SO I'M VERY PROACTIVE ABOUT REFERRING THEM OUT OR GAINING SOME SUPPORT FOR THEM.

I DON'T QUESTION IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE CAN'T AT THIS POINT.

OUR STUDENTS ARE REALLY REALLY STRUGGLING.

OFFICE HOURS THESE DAYS ARE NOT ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE COURSE IT'S ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE SUPPORT SINCE UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS ARE HAVING TO REALLY REV UP THOSE SUPPORTS IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THAT.

TYPE OF ACCESS.

>> THAT IS REAL.

I SO WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT BUT THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TODAY, DOCTOR STEPHANIE IRBY COARD, REVEREND JEMONDE TAYLOR, TAMIKA WALKER KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR INSIGHTS TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK TODAY'S GUESTS.

WE INVITE YOU TO ENGAGE WITH US ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG #BLACKISSUESFORUM.

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FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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