Tolerance Encouraged At New Rochelle Unraveling Gender Event

NEW ROCHELLE, NY ‚ — More than 100 students, parents and faculty members attended the Unraveling Gender event at New Rochelle High School Saturday.

The educational extravaganza was organized in an effort to provide a safe space to discuss gender identity and expression, according to a school spokeswoman.

The event was put together by New Rochelle High School senior and Bezos Scholar Ana Acevedo.

She said it was designed to make students feel supported.

“It’s about understanding others and having tolerance. It was a lot of work to organize. But if just one student benefits, that’s the goal,” Acevedo said.

Santiago Castillo, 17, a senior at the high school who’s in gender transition, was also a presenter on the event’s student panel.

“I spoke about coming out transgender and how I felt,” he said.

“I encouraged people to be supportive even if they don’t understand. It has made a huge difference for me to have the support of my friends at school,” Castillo said.

Unraveling Gender featured keynote speaker Sam Killermann, an author, speaker and social justice comedian. Workshops addressed topics including gender and school policy, gender and human rights and dating for everyone.

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Photo caption: Event organizer Ana Acevedo, left, with her advisor and House II Principal Camille Edwards-Thomas. Photo credit: City School District of New Rochelle.