GSA Network of California

New Campaign Campaigns

• 

  CA Care 4 Trans Queer Youth: Gavin Newsom

  The wave of anti-trans and anti-queer legislation both directly targets TQ youth and strengthens efforts to rollback the rights of all historically marginalized and "othered" communities. We need to not only stop these anti-TQ bills, but transform our culture toward community and collective freedom. State and local organizers have been busy fighting these bills. We're calling on all state residents, community, and allies to #ShowUp4TransYouth and queer youth by demanding politicians end efforts of dividing the people and work toward CARE FOR TRANS AND QUEER YOUTH.  Is there an upcoming state or local action that we can uplift on this petition? Contact petition organizers by emailing [email protected] to share upcoming actions, efforts, and updates related to TQ youth devising freedom. Our team will work to include relevant updates to state petitions. You can also check out efforts in other states here. GSA Network will continue to update state solidarity petitions as bills and resistance movements continue to evolve throughout the next few months. Be sure to share this petition with all TQ youth leaders and allies who are committed to interrupting these ongoing attacks.

  61 of 100 Signatures

  Created by GSA Network C.
• 

  We need a GSA at Sowers!

  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! 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.

  11 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Tegenn J.
• 

  The Fight Against Transphobia in LBUSD

  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.

  579 of 600 Signatures

  Created by Amber V
• 

  Demanding affirmative action in regards to Queer & Trans* students at PVUSD

  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.

  186 of 200 Signatures

  Created by Dre F.
• 

  The Power of Inclusive LGBTQ+ Education

  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.

  121 of 200 Signatures

  Created by Jeremy R.
• 

  SGV LGBTQ Students Need Solutions: Adopt Restorative Practices

  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.

  11 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Iain S.
• 

  CUSD: Gender-Neutral Dress Code

  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.

  3,800 of 4,000 Signatures

  Created by Rei B.
• 

  AVUHSD Implement Ethnic Studies NOW!

  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!

  203 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Mario V.
• 

  Bring the F.A.I.R. Education Act to the William S. Hart School District

  The bill's purpose is to amend the education code to require schools to integrate age-appropriate, factual information about social movements, current events, and history about the roles and contributions of people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people into existing social studies and history lessons. It also prevents the State Board of Education from adopting instructional materials that discriminate. This is important to the students because it reflects that the district has an interest in all their students, and also does not discriminate against them.

  208 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Andrew T.
• 

  Show You Care

  I cannot express how much it means to know that there are people in this world who support one through life. As we grow older and prepare ourselves for the world after high school, we spend years through school figuring out who we are and everything about ourselves. Yet, when a teen is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or any other LGBTQ* identity, it can feel immensely more complicated and scary. In serious cases, feelings of isolation and non-support can lead to tragic outcomes, with suicide being the 3rd leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24. We need to put a stop to this and ensure that all youth have an equal shot at success and a bright future. For this reason, this simple project has one goal: show teens everywhere, we do care! In the end, this can make all the difference.

  36 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Pat C.