I believe there is great importance in multicultural education to address topics like racism and discrimination. These issues are not something that disappear in a school setting, especially when they are deeply rooted in the system. Talking about them and opening up the conversation that these actions are not acceptable is crucial for students to understand what they should and shouldn't tolerate in how they are treated by others.

This issue is so prevalent with the rise of social media that it's become a normalized joke to call people gay. The stigma and cultural pressure to conform to social norms are harmful to youth.

Kids are like sponges, so when adults in their lives spew hateful commentary, it sticks to them. The end result is that it stays with them as they go through life interacting with different people. Having a sense of belonging is important to youths, especially in a school environment.