In a significant move during a campaign event focused on LGBTQ voters, the spouse of Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, actively engaged in discussions about sexual orientation with her students while teaching high school. She even addressed the topic of sexuality with a student before he had come out to his parents. Jacob Reitan, who was once a pupil of Gwen Walz at Mankato West High School in Minnesota, repeatedly shared that on the first day of his sophomore year, Gwen Walz established her classroom as a welcoming environment for students who were gay or lesbian.
Reitan, who was 15 at the time and had not yet disclosed his own sexuality, found it unprecedented to hear a teacher openly address LGBTQ issues. Being a target of bullying and accusations related to his sexuality since seventh grade, Reitan was unfamiliar with any gay individuals or LGBTQ representation in media. “I was stunned,” expressed Reitan, now a 42-year-old attorney in Minneapolis, during an “Out for Harris and Walz” virtual event, which was attended by Tim Walz and several Hollywood celebrities.
During this event, Reitan highlighted that Gwen Walz was the first person he confided in about his sexuality. He learned from her about the supportive stance the Walz family had historically taken towards gay students, especially during their time as educators in Nebraska. This conversation took place amid efforts by Tim Walz and his wife to reach out to LGBTQ voters for the Harris campaign. On the same evening, Gwen Walz was a speaker at a Philadelphia event organized by the Human Rights Campaign, a group advocating for transgender rights among children, claiming to have engaged with over 75 million LGBTQ+ voters and supporters.
The scrutiny over educational content has intensified among American voters, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift was partly due to the surprise and concern many parents felt upon discovering the topics of gender, sexuality, religion, and race being discussed in classrooms. This concern played a significant role in Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s victory in Virginia, contrasting sharply with Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s controversial statement regarding parental involvement in educational content.
Reitan has openly talked about the impact Gwen Walz had on him, noting to the New York Times that her acknowledgment of LGBTQ issues from the onset of his class was unexpected yet empowering. The Associated Press also captured Reitan’s sentiment, emphasizing how significant those discussions were for him. According to reports, Gwen Walz had determined back in the 1990s the importance of supportive dialogue on LGBTQ topics in the educational setting.
The couple’s early support for LGBTQ students, including attending an Indigo Girls concert with a student, illustrates their longstanding commitment. Although details about the student remain private, the gesture was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Gwen Walz. However, current administrators at Alliance Public Schools, where the Walzes once taught, have distanced themselves from these practices, citing a lack of records to support or refute such claims.
Following a personal setback in 1995, the Walzes moved to Minnesota, where they continued their advocacy and support for LGBTQ students. Tim Walz’s involvement as a faculty adviser for a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Mankato High School further underscores their dedication to fostering an inclusive environment in education.
The narrative around the Walzes’ activism and its impact on LGBTQ awareness within educational contexts reveals the complexities and challenges of addressing such topics in schools. Their efforts, amidst varying responses from the community and evolving societal attitudes, highlight the ongoing dialogue about inclusivity and representation in education.
