Exeter and the Open Door

By Allison Whelan ’24

We all received the flyer in our emails. “Today is the 33rd Annual National Coming Out Day” filled the subject line. Below that, a flyer. A flyer representative of Exeter’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people: doing enough, but with room of growth.

The flyer advertised different LGBTQ+ groups on campus, such as the Gender-Sexuality Alliance and confidential affinity groups. The flyer also advertised a door on the quad, to celebrate all who have come out—and all who will. So what’s up with the door?

Exeter is definitely doing more to celebrate students of the LGBTQ+ community than most American high schools. On the first days of school, we all had to announce our names and preferred pronouns. In many of my classes, students freely discuss their sexuality or have pride flags hanging behind them. In some classes, my peers identify with they/them pronouns, and teachers respect them. Exeter encourages students to be themselves, and to identify with who they truly are.

Yet, this could also be doing the bare minimum. I’ve read through @queeratexeter on Instagram, and many students report discrimination and shine a light on the darker aspects of our community. A letter to Principal Rawson, published in The Exonian last spring, describes how a student’s intra-dorm relationship feels “illegal” at times. Exeter seems to be putting the effort into change, but it’s evident that it still has some way to go.

In general, Exeter seems to care about its students much more than the average high school. Most public schools wouldn’t be putting the effort in to make all students feel loved and included. It wouldn’t put the effort in to change and improve. Students seem to, in general, feel accepted and loved. I can’t speak for everyone, but most of the students I know feel safe at Exeter.

Was National Coming Out Day celebrated enough? Yes, I think so. For a high school, or for any institution, Exeter is very inclusive. Could they do better? Yes. If there are ever students that don’t feel completely safe, they could do better. Exeter handled National Coming Out Day well, but they can always do better.