Despite a last-minute change of venue due to the Canadian wildfires, the final Breakfast My Way of the school year on Wednesday, June 7, celebrated Pride Month with a joyful crowd of parents, students, and trustees. Attendees enjoyed a breakfast spread featuring rainbow bagels and Pride-themed donuts — the students really enjoyed the giant, frosting-festooned versions.
Breakfast My Way is an event sponsored several times each year by the Parents’ Association to bring parents together to learn about the breakfast traditions, holidays, and cultures of their fellow Gaynor families. This was the fifth breakfast this year; the previous breakfasts celebrated Diwali, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year, and Eid al-Fitr. This month’s hosts, Seth Rosen and Jacob Goertz, parents to Zach in the Red Cluster, explained the importance of Pride Month, allyship, and being who you truly are.
Mr. Rosen said, “I want to leave you with three things to do. One, celebrate yourself. Whether you’re straight or LGBTQ, Pride is a moment to live authentically. Number two, be a vocal and strong ally. We need you more than ever. That means making sure, especially for the people and kids in your life, that you are a safe person. The research is overwhelming, and the fact is that one safe person will prevent or decrease the risk of self harm and suicide, which is a tremendous risk for LGBTQ+ kids.” He finished his remarks by saying, “And the third, is to continue to support diversity, equity, and inclusion at Gaynor. We are a much stronger community when we honor and respect each other.”
Mr. Goertz had a special shout out for the Blue Cluster students in attendance, saying, “Thank you to the students that are here, because the students and the youth of today are going to lead our future. When we heard that students were coming we were overjoyed. So thank you, and you will be the ones to lead us in the future and to make the changes that we need.”
In addition to celebrating Pride, this Breakfast My Way also featured a visit by Gaynor’s incoming Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Stella Heyliger-Mulatu. Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor gave a formal introduction to the gathering, and Ms. Mulatu spent the morning chatting with the parents and trustees. Ms. Mulatu said, “This has been such a wonderful introduction to Gaynor, and I appreciate being here, so, more to come [this fall]!”
