LGBTQ+ youth at our school are afraid of being themselves because of intolerable bullying and homophobia that exists at St. Mary's. We must stand up to the pushback of the Archdiocese and become a place of love, comfort, and acceptance for all students regardless of gender, sexuality, race, or anything at all. A Genders & Sexualities Alliance club, or GSA, 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/federal-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! As a private institution, we should go above and beyond in providing all people with their rights and freedoms, not be below public education's Constitutional standards. GSAs have been proven to make schools safer for all students. Allow us to start a GSA so that ALL students can succeed.

We address these demands to every person within the K-12 education system, from Betsy DeVos to the local school teachers, because we ALL hold a responsibility to shift the narrative and transform our schools. Any student who is pushed out of schools into jails or death is one student too many. As young organizers, we understand our needs and voices to often be the afterthought of adults and educators. Commonly, our narratives are ignored until it is too late. Ageism encourages middle-aged people (usually our guardians and educators) to assume that young people do not have the potential to move agendas and make change. We are here, today, making it clear: our truths will lead the way. Show up for TLGBQ+ youth. Now.

WE DESERVE 1) Public school systems that have funding regardless of local property tax or proximity to wealthy, white communities. 2) Police-free schools without armed guards or armed teachers. 3) Schools with GSAs (or other student-led convening spaces). 4) Administrators and Teachers who are POC, trans and queer. 5) Administrators, Teachers and Staff with annual Racial and Gender competency training. 6) Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and LGBTQIA relevant curriculums with Fine Arts and Advanced Placement courses that reflect our diverse and ancient cultures. 7) Multiple full-time nurses and full-time social workers at our schools. 8) Schools with Trans and Queer Youth of Color Student Government Committees

This is important because not only is this affecting me but I also want future students who come to any of the LBUSD schools to know that they are protected under state, federal, local, and district laws. People deserve to know that we in the transgender community are here no matter what anyone says. #WEWILLNOTBEERASED Being able to collect even the smallest amounts of signatures will help us get far and start a movement. I strongly believe the treatment the transgender community has received is a disgrace. Having been through personal struggles, I am taking a stand and want my voice heard.

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.

As young transgender and non-binary people, we #WontBeErased. The work of generations before us, from Stonewall and before, have set the foundation for organizers to continue to fight (and to win) the equity and justice our community needs to survive. We will continue to build the resources our people need and we will never silence #OurTransTRUTH. Our stories will guide the work. We call on our community and those allied with our movement to show up. Research and understand what this memo could mean and then fight against it with everything you can. Gather and spread resources to support trans folks, from housing opportunities, job/gig openings, to mental and physical health support. Donate and support our GoFundMe’s. Hold our communities accountable to respecting and valuing the lives of the trans people who exist with us. Sign on to our petition in solidarity with transgender, nonbinary, and/or GNC youth to commit to show up for us by supporting the trans community and taking action against transphobia. Share this petition to educate others on the affects of this memo on trans youth and uplift our response. While the government has been clear about their lack of commitment to the lives of queer and trans people, especially poor Black/brown queer/trans young people, we know we are on the right side of history and we will never stop fighting. Existing as queer and trans youth is getting more difficult every day. If you feel that you are unsafe or in need of support, please take a look at the attached resources and reach out as you feel able. You are not alone. If you are in need or support/resources or in crisis, here are some orgs ready to help: TRUTH Council Trans Lifeline Trevor Project (call, text, chat) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ____________________________________________________ Signed, National Trans Youth (TRUTH) Council

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.

Our student and staff populations have changed tremendously in the almost 20 years since this policy was last updated. We have become a more diverse city and a more diverse school system. In many ways, we acknowledge, accept, support, include and celebrate our diversity in our schools. Our policies should also PROTECT this diversity in all of its forms. According to a recent study (GLAAD’s third annual Accelerating Acceptance report), 20% of millennials and younger identify as LGBTQ, and 12% of millennials and younger identify as either transgender or gender-nonconforming. These are significant numbers. Statistically speaking, this means that, of our approximately 8,000 students in grades 9-12 alone, 1,600 of them likely identify (publicly or privately) as LGBT, and almost 1,000 identify (publicly or privately) as transgender or gender non-conforming. Of our approximately 4,700 district employees, it is likely that as many as 700-900 openly or privately identify as LGBTQ individuals. Due to Attorney General Mark Herring’s 2015 opinion on school boards’ authority, localities ARE able to enact nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity. This gives school boards the authority to protect students and employees through policy updates. According to Equality Virginia, today more than 25% of Virginia’s public school students and employees are protected based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. These protections now exist in 53 counties and 18 independent cities in our Commonwealth. Sadly, Newport News students and staff are not among them. Our LGBTQ students and staff members deserve these protections against discrimination.

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.

Many of our own peers are forced into an environment where their identities are unwelcome. Students you see everyday are bullied by not only other students, but their parents as well. '"LGBT people are targeted for violent hate crimes at a rate of two times that of... Muslims or black people, four times that of Jews, and 14 times that of Latinos.' Data from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs also shows (link is external) that the transgender community is particularly vulnerable to such violence. In 2013, 67% of hate crime homicides were committed against transgender women of color" -http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog-post/lgbt-america-numbers "Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24.1 LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth.2 LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.2 Of all the suicide attempts made by youth, LGB youth suicide attempts were almost five times as likely to require medical treatment than those of heterosexual youth.2 Suicide attempts by LGB youth and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment from a doctor or nurse, compared to their straight peers.2 In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25.3 LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.4 1 out of 6 students nationwide (grades 9–12) seriously considered suicide in the past year. [5] Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average.6" -https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/