We cannot break the chains that bind us if we do not strive for a world without the very systems that put them on our wrists. We cannot work alone towards this goal either, because no one struggles alone; the white, heterosexual and cisgender patriarchy harms all us. When LGBTQ+ youth come together, when the most marginalized of us are uplifted, and when those more privileged acknowledge and use it for the fight, our community has a voice that will not be silenced and the power to create a just world for all.

Transgender students face constant harassment from their peers and teachers and we have had enough. Many students are dead-named even though they have notified the teachers. These teachers allow harassment to continue in our classrooms leading to our students in our S.A.G.A club to feel hopeless about a future.

This is important because of the increase in attacks, bullying, mistreatment, and more in Maine high schools, originating mostly in bathrooms, as they have no cameras.

The lack of LGBT representation in our curriculum is responsible for the disadvantages and dangers that LGBT youth typically face. We need LGBT History, Sex-Ed, and Gender-Ed to show all students that the LGBT community is just as important as any other minority group in our country. The lack of representation and education is why LGBT+ are treated like 2nd class citizens and why they themselves believe it as well. It's time to end our children's confusion. End their insecurities, self-hatred, and end LGBT+ discrimination in schools with the power of proper education and representation. ''According to data from the 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), of surveyed LGB students: 10% were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property 34% were bullied on school property 28% were bullied electronically'' [https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm] This has to stop. LGBT youth face a drastic disadvantage. And it’s not being addressed effectively. Why is Sex-Ed specifically important? For the same reasons why sex-ed is important for any other child. There comes an age when youth undergo changes in their body and need an explanation. They NEED to learn safe practices and need to learn certain things to keep them healthy and safe, so that they may avoid jeopardizing their life at such an early stage. The lack of proper LGBT+ sex ed in schools isolates and endangers youth. This is why we have such high risks of depression, suicide, and catching HIV/STDS. We are left to fend on our own and discover these things for ourselves. “ LGB youth are at greater risk for depression, suicide, substance use, and sexual behaviors that can place them at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Nearly one-third (29%) of LGB youth had attempted suicide at least once in the prior year compared to 6% of heterosexual youth. In 2014, young gay and bisexual men accounted for 8 out of 10 HIV diagnoses among youth. ‘’ [https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm] “Every year, 50,000 Americans are infected with HIV. Youth and young adults ages 13 to 29 comprise one-third of those infections. Inadequate sexual health education is a significant barrier to promoting healthy practices among LGBTQ youth. That is why HRC advocates for legislation at the state and federal level, such as the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act, to improve sexual health education.” -Post submitted by Jordan Dashow, HRC Policy Assistant [https://www.hrc.org/blog/california-mandates-lgbtq-inclusive-sex-education] From personal experience, I can say that the lack of adequate LGBT sex-ed in my middle school led to really poor and dangerous decisions as a child. Underage teens -minors- our CHILDREN, are turning to dating and hookup apps to experience and learn sex themselves. The rise of underage teens on these apps are growing at such an alarming rate AND EVEN becoming normalized. Why is this being ignored?? I've seen 14 year olds on these apps. Minors are repeatedly meeting adults through these apps and no one is noticing. No one is being punished. What is even more horrific is that more and MORE pedophiles are being created as LGBT minors meeting up for casual sex is going unnoticed/ignored. Predators are beginning to become comfortable with committing statutory rape and publicly state on their profile statements like: "The younger the better" "YOUNGER ONLY.’’ Predators are actively seeking minors and minors are actively putting themselves at risk. This is happening in real time at this very second. The traumatic and life threats that LGBT+ Youth face due to the lack of sex education and using dating/hookup apps are: STD/HIV Exposure Human Trafficking Rape and Manipulation Normalizing Statutory Rape Gaining Unhealthy Relationship Practices Exposure to Drugs and Violence It has been going on for years. I am one of the countless LGBT minors who have turned to these platforms because of the lack of sex-ed that is relevant to us. I've experienced things that I regret and don't want any other child to experience or carry on their shoulders. California LGBT+ youth aren’t the only ones that need this education, ALL LGBT+ youth do. Please, do not let this slide. Protect our youth and their future. By implementing these changes in our state, we are leading a movement much more greater. May California continue to be a leading example of striving to make equality possible for all. Protect our children.

In November 2013, Jewlyes Gutierrez, a transgender girl from California, was outrageously charged with assault for defending herself against bullying at school. A year earlier, Dynasty Young in Indiana was expelled for bringing a stun gun to school in self-defense after enduring months of harassment based on his sexual orientation and gender expression. Jewlyes, Dynasty, LGBTQ youth, and all students deserve better. Our district can -- and must -- take action now to make sure our students are never put in a similar position. We often hear about bullying in schools, but the anti-bullying and zero tolerance policies adopted in response pose just as much of a danger for LGBTQ youth of color. Together, hostile school environments and extreme disciplinary policies create a school-to-prison pipeline for youth of color, youth with disabilities, and LGBTQ youth, telling them that their lives are disposable and that simply trying to get an education carries a risk of jail time. LGBTQ youth make up just 5-7% of the youth population, but represent 15% of those in the juvenile justice system. Exclusionary practices (like suspensions and expulsions) hurt all students' ability to succeed and achieve their academic goals and dreams. We believe restorative justice practices are the best solution for school discipline problems involving bias-based bullying and harassment, because they allow schools to address the root problems behind bullying and harmful behavior. In January, the Obama administration released guidelines for improving school climate and discipline. Those guidelines recommend best practices like restorative approaches and condemn punitive policies and court referrals. It has been proven that alternative discipline with non-punitive approaches provides better student outcomes and keeps the student community together. In March 2014, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Opportunity to Learn Campaign, and the Advancement Project jointly released a toolkit highlighting restorative approaches as a best practice and providing guidance to administrators and educators on implementing them. In order to keep ourselves and fellow students in school, we demand that restorative justice practices, as outlined in the "Restorative Practices: Fostering Healthy Relationships & Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools" toolkit, be implemented in our district.

In November 2013, Jewlyes Gutierrez, a transgender girl from California, was outrageously charged with assault for defending herself against bullying at school. A year earlier, Dynasty Young in Indiana was expelled for bringing a stun gun to school in self-defense after enduring months of harassment based on his sexual orientation and gender expression. Jewlyes, Dynasty, LGBTQ youth, and all students deserve better. Our district can -- and must -- take action now to make sure our students are never put in a similar position. We often hear about bullying in schools, but the anti-bullying and zero tolerance policies adopted in response pose just as much of a danger for LGBTQ youth of color. Together, hostile school environments and extreme disciplinary policies create a school-to-prison pipeline for youth of color, youth with disabilities, and LGBTQ youth, telling them that their lives are disposable and that simply trying to get an education carries a risk of jail time. LGBTQ youth make up just 5-7% of the youth population, but represent 15% of those in the juvenile justice system. Exclusionary practices (like suspensions and expulsions) hurt all students' ability to succeed and achieve their academic goals and dreams. We believe restorative justice practices are the best solution for school discipline problems involving bias-based bullying and harassment, because they allow schools to address the root problems behind bullying and harmful behavior. In January, the Obama administration released guidelines for improving school climate and discipline. Those guidelines recommend best practices like restorative approaches and condemn punitive policies and court referrals. It has been proven that alternative discipline with non-punitive approaches provides better student outcomes and keeps the student community together. In March 2014, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Opportunity to Learn Campaign, and the Advancement Project jointly released a toolkit highlighting restorative approaches as a best practice and providing guidance to administrators and educators on implementing them. In order to keep ourselves and fellow students in school, we demand that restorative justice practices, as outlined in the "Restorative Practices: Fostering Healthy Relationships & Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools" toolkit, be implemented in our district.

Due to a lack of education or being exposed to the LGBTQ community, the students at our school are homophobic but also sexualize the idea of being queer. A GSA would normalize being queer, it would break a lot of boundaries and stereotypical mindsets. A Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club would provide a much-needed safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and work to create positive change on campus. Under the Federal Equal Access Act (http://www.gsanetwork.org/equal-access-act), any school that receives government funding and has at least one other non-curricular club is legally required to also allow a GSA. Legally, public schools with other clubs must let students start a GSA -- and must treat the GSA like any other student club! Schools can't make up rules that only apply to the GSA and nobody else. GSAs have been proven to make schools safer for all students. Allow us to start a GSA so that ALL students can succeed.

In the Spring of 2016, the Parkway Board of Education voted to bring changes to the Sexual Education Curriculum to make it inclusive. But it is still under attack. The Parkway School Board now has a conservative majority. We must tell them that we NEED Sex Ed to keep us safe. Please sign to stand with Parkway Students.

The Clovis Unified School District's majority vote (4-3) refusing the adaptation of a gender-neutral dress code is illegal. Under the California Education Code (Ch. 2 Art. 3 Sec. 220), students are entitled to their right of not being subjected to "...discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression...". Students, parents, and community members alike believe that the mindset during the implementation of the 1975 CUSD dress code does not reflect the mindset of 2016's society.

Because Students health, safety and even lives could be in danger without this type of education. Bad information leads to poor ability to make decisions and leaving students without tools needed to handle what happens when those decisions are made. We need all the information when it comes to sexual health, not just some of it.

In order to empower our community we need a culturally enriched education that celebrates diversity and individuality and that is not limited to conquest, slavery, labor or servitude. Our education must be reflective and responsive to the needs of our community. A diverse education is reflective of our lived experiences and identities as marginalized ethnic, racial, cultural, gender and LGBT communities. Educate to Liberate!

Schools shouldn't punish students for standing up for justice. I was fighting for my civil rights and my rights as a human being and that is why the issues surrounding Ferguson and Racism itself are important to me. I believe the school also needs to adopt better alternatives other than suspension, expulsion, and detention because this is not helping people's education but set them up for things like incarceration and pushing them away from school. This is not the first time that people of color have been unfairly targeted. We have been punished more than most of the white kids have been even though we are not behaving worse. It is important to work together and find solutions and it has been proven that current punishments do not work. Not only am I targeted but people with disabilities, other people of color, people who Identify as trans*, and much more are affected by schools current practices. We need to work together.