Chicago Teachers Union codifies LGBTQ+ protections in new contract
Windy City Times – The Chicago Teachers Union’s newly ratified contract is being hailed as a landmark victory for LGBTQ+ inclusion in public education, with protections that safeguard trans students and queer educators amid growing national hostility.
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) ratified the new four-year contract on April 14 with 97% approval from its membership. The agreement with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) goes beyond traditional labor issues, establishing some of the most comprehensive contractual protections for LGBTQ+ students and educators in the country.
The contract codifies key provisions such as gender-affirming health care, the use of affirmed names for students and staff, dedicated gender support coordinators in every school, support for Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and stronger accountability mechanisms when violations occur.
