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You are at:Home»Community»Youth»LAUSD Commits to Support for LGBTQ Students

LAUSD Commits to Support for LGBTQ Students

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By on November 25, 2018 Youth

By Greg Hernandez

Following powerful testimony from students, teachers, parents, and community groups on June 12, the Los Angeles Unified School District unanimously passed a resolution that outlines ways to better serve its LGBTQ students.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center was among the groups who urged the district’s board of education to take action in a wide range of areas including increased LGBTQ+ competency training for teachers, staff, and administrators.

“I know LAUSD has strong policies. This is an issue of implementation,” the Center’s Education Policy Manager Krystal Torres-Covarrubias told the board. “I get calls from school members across the district saying, ‘Please come and train us. We have a student and we need help.’”

The resolution also calls for the district to recognize October as LGBTQ+ History Month, add a platform to the district’s official website LAUSD.net that will share LGBTQ+ information and resources, and include students as part of a high school textbook adoption committee to help ensure LGBT-related content is included in history and social science materials.

In addition, the Increasing Support for LGBTQ+ Students, Their Families, and Schools resolution, calls for an analysis of single user, all-gender bathrooms. This involves determining whether a school is complying with AB-1732, a state law aimed at combating gender identity discrimination.

Axel Ortega, a 17-year-old transgender student from Garfield High School, shared with the board what can happen when faculty or staff are insensitive to such important details as a change of name and gender marker.

“I was very excited to start school last year, but when I got to my homeroom, everything fell apart,” Ortega said. “The teacher was calling out everyone’s name and then I heard my birth name called out several times. Of course I didn’t respond. I was the last one standing and I just wanted to break down and run out. I had to go to every one of my teachers to ask them not to call out my birth name. Staff members need to be aware that this is a big deal.”

The entire school board co-sponsored the resolution and said they were appreciative of Ortega and the other students who spoke out.

“It’s so important to get your story out there because your light inspires,” said Board Vice President Nick Melvoin. “Kids who come after you are seeing you tell your stories. What you’ve all done by creating these flickers of light throughout L.A. is you’ve created a force that no one can look away from and you are leading us forward.”

Board President Monica Garcia also offered her support and admiration. “We are all with you,” she said. “Thank you for being here. Thank you for your courage!”

Prior to the vote, local students and staff members from the Center, Latino Equality Alliance, GSA Network, and ONE Archives joined together for a small, but lively rally outside district headquarters.

The school district’s superintendent will report back to the board within 60 days with recommendations on how to implement the resolution.

Originally published June 2018

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🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom sign 🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law 9 bills this weekend that will help ensure the safety and dignity of the #LGBTQ+ community through measures addressing inclusive school climates, gender-affirming business licensing, and public accommodations. This is a moment to take action, click the link in bio to urge Gov. Newsom to sign AB1645 🗣️
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“Queer people are told to minimize everything. W “Queer people are told to minimize everything. We’re told to be the friend or the supporting character. But drag makes us think, what if I’m the main character?” asked #TrixieMattel in her speech at last year’s #ModelsofPride, the world’s largest free conference for #LGBTQ+ youth. “I want you guys to know that you are all the main character.”

The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” champ accepted the event’s Model of Pride award, celebrating her epic career spanning entertainment, music, cosmetics—and even commercial renovation, with the hotel makeover series “Trixie Motel” for Discovery—at a time when drag was becoming a growing target for the far-right. 

This year, the drag bans have evolved into an anti-LGBTQ assault on California schools, but Models of Pride is back on October 14th with keynote speakers like #DylanMulvaney and #HayleyKiyoko to create the safe, empowering space our students need right now. You can register at the #linkinbio, or head to modelsofpride.org for more info.
Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did YOU know the B in Cardi B was for #Bisexual?) Remember you are valid, you owe nobody an explanation, and you’re loved. 🩷💜💙
Happy #BiVisibilityDay! Today we’re giving love Happy #BiVisibilityDay! Today we’re giving love to and celebrating the B in LGBTQ. Bi Visibility Day was created to recognize and celebrate the Bi+ community including the need to reduce stigma of the identity. Bisexuality is beautiful and bi folks deserve love, support and acceptance. How are you celebrating Bi Visibility Day? Drop your 🩷💜💙’s in the comments 

🎥 @kimhoyos
🚨#Breaking: The United States is facing a short 🚨#Breaking: The United States is facing a shortage of injectable penicillin, which is the usual medication used for treating #syphilis. Fortunately, #DoxyPEP has been proven to effectively lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, by as much as 87%. For more information, swipe to view our FAQs on DoxyPEP or visit the link in our bio.
We are excited to announce recording artist #Hayle We are excited to announce recording artist #HayleyKiyoko (@hayleykiyoko), AKA #LesbianJesus, as this year’s double headliner and honoree at our #ModelsofPride youth summit! She joins keynote speaker and Model of Pride Award recipient #DylanMulvaney and social media star @RubasWorld, who will serve as the event’s host on October 14.

At a time when LGBTQ+ education is under attack, Models of Pride lifts love, acceptance, and queer joy for LGBTQ+ youth and allies. For more info and registration, visit modelsofpride.org. 

#ModelsofPride #LGBTQYouth  #LoveAndAcceptance
Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! 

Hosted by RuPaul's #DragRace Season 15 alum, @EsTitties, Queerce is a vivid cultural summit and community cotillion rooted in unbridled celebration. This year’s honorees RuPaul’s #DragRaceMéxico host @allaboutvalentina and actress/recording artist @MissBenny sitting down together in a candid keynote conversation. 

But wait, there’s more! The post-program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances by #LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of #DragRaceMexico #Valentina as an honoree and keynote speaker at the Center’s first-ever #Queerceañera! Join us in celebrating the vibrancy of LA's LGBTQ+ Latinx community on Friday, Sept. 29 in Hollywood.

There’s more! The post program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances curated by LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
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Founded nearly 20 years ago by bar owner Mariano Escobar, the event features live music, dancing, and a contest for “rostro vaquero”—the official face of the convention and a nod to Mexican festivals where women are crowned “princesses” or “queens.” This year, the title went to Eros Herrera, a police officer who recently opened a homeless shelter and soup kitchen serving the #LGBTQ+ community in San Luis Potosi.

“When I’m on the street, I’m very discreet,” Daniel Renteria, an agave farmer who traveled an hour and a half to attend, told the Times. “Having to hide yourself is hard. Events like this one unite us.” Read more at the #linkinbio.

Happy #LatinxHeritageMonth—stay tuned for more coverage on this page over the next few weeks.

📷 Gary Coronado via @latimes
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