{"id":2370,"date":"2021-06-15T19:22:55","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T19:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/?p=2370"},"modified":"2022-09-27T14:43:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T14:43:00","slug":"crossing-the-hallway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/crossing-the-hallway\/","title":{"rendered":"Crossing the Hallway"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  inner-heading-area  container_wrap fullsize' style='background-color: #222222;background-image: linear-gradient(to right,#222222,#00aeef); '  ><div class='container' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2370'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ketvxyew-fd2803b4eb1c14056cc10c0b4eaa89a1 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock inner-landing-text av_inherit_color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Crossing the Hallway<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2370'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kpydwfaf-2661fb2372e2b489ec69704f4631985c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong><em>By Guest Blogger: Lena Malpeli, Student<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My friend jokingly called me one of the rarest specimens to exist; a jock and a geek hybridized, somehow co-inhabiting in the same body. For the most part I agreed, though sports, a constant in my life since age three, never meshed with my fine arts extracurriculars. I knew about three other kids who played sports who also participated either in concert or marching band. It was frustrating that the rest of my bandmates didn\u2019t know what a technical foul was while my soccer teammates thought an arpeggio was a type of cheese. My sports life and my band life were separate, and when I tried meshing them, they never mixed well. In the band room my girlfriend and I would cuddle in the backroom, squeeze each other on the arm, and I would excitedly tell my friends we had a date after my basketball game. At the actual game it was totally different. To teammates, I vaguely alluded to having a date, never mentioning pronouns. I only told one person on the team (who was also queer) that I was gay. I would not have been \u201c<em>hate-crimed\u201d<\/em> by the entire JV team if I had explicitly come out, but there was a tense undercurrent underlying any expression of queerness in the sports that I played.<\/p>\n<p>The most disconcerting occurrence happened when a girl who I used to play soccer with asked if my ex and I were dating. By then I was semi-closeted, telling some friends in band and my desk mates in my literature class. But I was certainly not out to the whole school, as several classmates went to my church (which I knew was homophobic) and could <em>out me<\/em> there. I was never explicitly bullied at school for being gay, but unusual looks from teammates, cold shoulders, and one rant from a former teammate expressing her confusion about the existence of gay people told me I shouldn\u2019t be explicitly open about my queerness in athletics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpydxm7s-aa43e321e3c37b9872891ef01cd50bc2\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-aa43e321e3c37b9872891ef01cd50bc2 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-aa43e321e3c37b9872891ef01cd50bc2 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpydxm7s-aa43e321e3c37b9872891ef01cd50bc2 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2372 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2372 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-687x1030.jpeg\" alt='' title='Lena Malpeli-1'  height=\"1030\" width=\"687\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-687x1030.jpeg 687w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-scaled-600x900.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-1000x1500.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-470x705.jpeg 470w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/Lena-Malpeli-1-scaled.jpeg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_3'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2370'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-8  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpydxm7s-790346c521c99cce1569387439f6cc8b\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-790346c521c99cce1569387439f6cc8b img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-790346c521c99cce1569387439f6cc8b .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpydxm7s-790346c521c99cce1569387439f6cc8b av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-9  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2377 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2377 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-1030x579.png\" alt='' title='DUS_CPEHS Hallway'  height=\"579\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-1030x579.png 1030w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-1500x844.png 1500w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway-705x397.png 705w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_CPEHS-Hallway.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpydxm7s-571163746e8443857874375376922c48\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-571163746e8443857874375376922c48 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-571163746e8443857874375376922c48 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpydxm7s-571163746e8443857874375376922c48 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2376 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2376 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-1030x718.jpg\" alt='' title='SONY DSC'  height=\"718\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-1030x718.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-600x418.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-768x535.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-1536x1070.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-2048x1427.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-1500x1045.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/iStock_000019022150_cmyk300F-705x491.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kpydwfaf-2661fb2372e2b489ec69704f4631985c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>So why were those two spaces so different for me? I had life-long friends in both marching band and club soccer, but there was an underlying system of support in the fine arts that I did not see in the rest of my school. It was a running joke that there was an unusual number of queer kids in band and theatre, but there was also an unusual amount of <em>openness<\/em> about sexuality and gender that was not present anywhere else. Kids are more likely to come out if they feel they are in a safe space, which is vital to their mental health. Coming out can feel like a huge and scary process, but with the right mentors and an open and accepting environment, the \u201cscary\u201d part of the process isn\u2019t as intense.<\/p>\n<p>Living in a half-space of openness was jarring for me. As soon as I crossed into the band hallway, there was a bounce in my step, a grin on my face, and an increased security in my identity. However, after the bell rang for the next period, my reactions were visceral: my shoulders hunched inwards, I took shorter strides with my head held down, and physically let people impose on my space for fear of simply being too \u201cmuch\u201d. At church I would consciously wear more pastels, raise my voice tone to make it sound more Southern, sit with the girls instead of playing games, and more. I was like two different people. At band and in private, I was wholly myself, but in places I felt unsafe, I was only a facsimile of my best attributes. The negative mental ramifications of physical and psychological unsafe places in school, sports, church, or anywhere else can be catastrophic for LGBTQ+ kids; it makes the need for places of acceptance and self-expression that much more vital.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_4'  class='avia-section main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2370'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-14  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kpydwfaf-2661fb2372e2b489ec69704f4631985c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Thankfully, there are several ways to make LGBTQ+ teens feel supported and accepted. First and foremost, the creation of a safe environment inside a classroom or teaching area is key. For me, it was in band class, where the director let us eat lunch in the back room, giving students a sheltered space to talk with friends about anything and everything without fear of being overheard or fodder for gossip. I\u2019ve seen many TikToks of students professing their gratitude towards their teachers who let queer kids chat at lunch in their classrooms \u2013 it may seem like a small gesture, but it means a <em>lot <\/em>to kids who crave safe spaces to be themselves. Even during class time, where most of the focus is on learning and retaining information, something like a small pride flag or a decal illustrating support can convey adult trustworthiness for a student. I remember the times I\u2019d travel into the city with my parents and seeing LGBTQ+ flags flying on balconies or a sticker in a restaurant window and how those moments made me feel indescribably happy. They gave me a sense of camaraderie, that some stranger was \u201cone of us\u201d or supported who I am. I can only imagine the effect that would have had for me at school where I spent most of my time. I wonder how much that could have made me, and kids like me, feel seen.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_third-49f6e875884219cf77c24341e550af53 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kpydxm7s-4f696f244f01605effc7ef92942a78c3\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-4f696f244f01605effc7ef92942a78c3 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kpydxm7s-4f696f244f01605effc7ef92942a78c3 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kpydxm7s-4f696f244f01605effc7ef92942a78c3 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-17  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2375 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2375 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-1030x799.jpeg\" alt='' title='DUS_Band Still'  height=\"799\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-1030x799.jpeg 1030w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-600x465.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-300x233.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-768x595.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still-705x547.jpeg 705w, https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/06\/DUS_Band-Still.jpeg 1393w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_5'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  inner-img-col  container_wrap fullsize' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2370'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kpydwfaf-2661fb2372e2b489ec69704f4631985c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>All in all, safe spaces in classrooms, and more importantly, in extracurriculars are vital for LGBTQ+ teens to feel secure. Teachers and educators have the biggest opportunity outside parenthood to create a safe learning environment for everyone questioning their gender and sexuality. This coming year I will head to college, which I chose for the specific reason to safely express my identity. It\u2019s an escape from a place where I often did not find refuge, but also a great opportunity to fully blossom in my identity and discover as much as I possibly can about the world. I\u2019m going to still play basketball and soccer in college, and maybe pick up a new instrument or two, because regardless of the space I am leaving, I know that won\u2019t be the space I am heading towards.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guest Blogger: Lena Malpeli, Student<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":2377,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Crossing the Hallway - Defining US<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycsel.com\/defining-us\/crossing-the-hallway\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Crossing the Hallway - 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