The Philadelphia School District recently hired its first LGBTQ+ Manager of Student Supports, a new position created to specifically serve the district’s LGBTQ+ youth and families. Tim McKinney moved from Big Brothers Big Sisters for the role and is now three months into the job.
“It’s so fun to have a job with LGBTQ+ in the title — and a gift,” said McKinney, who joked that their day job is a gay job. “And particularly now, when there’s less of that than ever, I’m very much feeling the honor and the privilege of it — and also the pressure of it to serve and to deliver.”
McKinney, a licensed social worker by trade, can rattle off the statistics — including dramatically increased rates of homelessness and foster care for LGBTQ+ youth — that they’ve seen negatively impact real kids in Philadelphia. But in this new position, they have a chance to make a strong impact.
“My goal here is to collect and connect,” they said, explaining that they collect resources from the area’s many organizations that serve LGBTQ+ young people and connect those offerings to students who need them.
In addition to helping the district develop and implement LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, they have an “open door policy” and regularly meet with students to learn how to best advocate for their needs. They’re also organizing the district’s third annual health and wellness summit, which will welcome 400 students across 35 schools — a record for the district.
“It’s the least ‘new’ job I’ve had,” McKinney noted, emphasizing that it’s the “same hustle, new address,” given that they’re familiar with the city’s LGBTQ+ landscape and with supporting its queer youth.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, McKinney was the LGBTQ+ program director and launched a virtual GSA during the pandemic that registered over 200 students in the first 48 hours.
“It really started us on this path of trying to create a space within the district specifically to serve those students who put their hand up and said, ‘Hey, that’s me, and I’m ready, willing and eager to feel seen, safe and celebrated at school,’” they explained.
When funding became available, the district created this new role, and McKinney — who already worked with the district in that previous job — was clearly the right fit. They now collaborate with the district’s DEI team and Rachel Holzman, Deputy Chief for the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities — a longtime LGBTQ+ ally who McKinney said deserves the title of “accomplice and co-conspirator” instead.
“These are my people,” said Holzman, who has always been an advocate for kids and the queer community but developed a personal connection to the cause when her daughter’s best friend — who she said is like her own child — came out as trans.
Holzman, who has worked for the school district for 18 years, was part of its earliest attempts to better and more overtly support LGBTQ+ students. The district started by offering staff trainings, launching an LGBTQ+ centered summit, and gathering youth for an advisory board.
This led to the creation of a policy in 2015 affirming the rights of trans students, Policy 252, which recently made headlines as the district vowed to continue it following an internal guideline in response to a trans athlete ban by the organization which governs Pennsylvania’s interscholastic sports.
Although the policy states that participation in interscholastic sports will be made on a case-by-case basis rather than explicitly supporting all trans athletes, Holzman said the district stands firmly behind all trans athletes currently participating in competitive sports and will continue to do so.
“There’s an entire office dedicated to making sure your rights are upheld,” she said, noting that there’s a place to go for any student or families who need an advocate. “I’m somebody who can make sure their rights are protected.”
Holzman also noted that the district continues to grow and evolve regarding its support of LGBTQ+ students. Professional development on these topics has been bolstered, and Holzman is focused on issues including creating access to more gender neutral bathrooms.
“There’s energy around this,” she underlined, noting that the administration is also listening for McKinney’s feedback about how it can continue to improve. “And there’s buy-in.”
The team is looking forward to celebrating the tenth anniversary of the policy, and since youth voices were centered during its creation, they’ll continue to be at the heart of any updates. McKinney said this is a possibility, given that some of the language is outdated and other LGBTQ+ leaders say the policy is incomplete.
McKinney, who said Policy 252 was developed by youth, wants to empower youth to continue to speak for themselves and introduce them to previous youth leaders who are now leading the city.
“I’m a white and male-presenting person. That doesn’t always represent safety to our students,” said McKinney, underlining that diversity in LGBTQ+ visibility is important.
“I’ve gotten to learn so much about language — how it’s grown and evolved and changed over time — that I’d say I’m less attached to it than I’ve ever been,” they said about how LGBTQ+ students have helped them reconsider how they describe themself. “So I just kind of live in that queer umbrella, and that feels right for me.”
One important role model McKinney wants to introduce to young people is Hazel Edwards, who McKinney said helped to craft Policy 252 and is now the director of programs at Galaei, a nightlife performer, and an integral member of Philly Pride 365.
McKinney said they’re “blessed to be on a team that already speaks that language very fluently” regarding LGBTQ+ competencies. Showing up to work as themself without the need to educate their colleagues allows them to stay focused on the important task of serving students.
“I don’t think that anyone is naive to the realities or the challenges that our folks are facing — staff or students — but it feels nice to be surrounded by a group of people who are really committed to making positive change and can actually do so.”