by Allan Appel This article was originally posted to New Haven Independent
The nation’s first Black openly gay state official met the organizers of what hopes to become the first LGBTQ-centered private school in Connecticut — and one of only a handful in the country.
Their message about being “firsts” in an era of anti-gay backlash was identical and impassioned: Don’t just be your authentic self. Celebrate that self, too.
That moment of celebration and mutual support unfolded Thursday night before 60 LGBTQ kids, their families, and allies at Southern Connecticut State University’s Adanti Student Center at 354 Fitch St.
The occasion — which featured New Haven native and newly elected state Treasurer Erick Russell as one of several guest inspirational speakers –was a recruitment event for the PROUD Academy. That’s the state’s first LGBTQ private school, still in formation, which is hoping to plant its flag in the Elm City as early as the fall of 2023.
The school’s founder, Patricia Nicolari, a 30-year veteran teacher and administrator from Ansonia, said the school is assembling a leadership team and board to address developing a curriculum, finance, administration, achieving accreditation, and obtaining and moving into a building that, ideally, will offer classes for students in grades seven through 10.
But all that is still a work in progress, she emphasized. There are only a handful of such fledgling institutions in a national network, which includes the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy in San Francisco.
howed me this was something I and others can do.”
By the time Bertolino arrived to take the helm at Southern in 2012, he added, “there were 25 out LGBTQ college and university presidents. Today there are over 300. Our support [for the PROUD Academy] will be unwavering.”
Tuition for the proposed school, Nicolari estimated, might be in the $30,000 to $40,000 range and there is an ambitious goal already in place to raise funds to offer scholarships to families in need of assistance.