First, listen…
Student: Whether I wear pants or a skirt, I sing the same. Does it matter if I wear pants instead of a skirt? Yes it matters to me. I don’t understand why my teacher and principal insist on me wearing a skirt to sing in the choir. It feels as weird as showing up to school in a bathing suit and nothing else. I already feel uncomfortable at school. It would be just one small thing that would make me think, ‘At least this one teacher knows and accepts me.’
Then, learn….
- https://educators4sc.org/topic-resources/teaching-about-gender-identity/
- https://www.genderspectrum.org/resources?category=gender-expansive-youth
- https://www.genderspectrum.org/articles/phe-resources
- https://ourfamily.org/family-support/
- https://www.hrc.org/resources/a-call-to-action-lgbtq-youth-need-inclusive-sex-education
During #GlobalDiversityAwareness Month and all year round, California State PTA and National PTA have position statements and resolutions that give us authority to act on behalf of LGBTQIA+ students and their families:
- http://downloads.capta.org/res/LGBTQ_Inclusiveness_in_HealthEducationCalifornia.pdf
- http://toolkit.capta.org/advocacy/position-statements/equity-all-children-youth/
- http://toolkit.capta.org/advocacy/position-statements/inclusiveness-and-diversity/
- http://toolkit.capta.org/advocacy/position-statements/safe-school-environments/
- https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/advocacy/2016-approved-convention-resolutions/recognition-of-lgbtq-individuals-as-a-protected-class-r.pdf
Then, Take Action…
We recognize that each PTA and school community will have different solutions, but these are great places to start:
- Review school policies in regard to bullying and support revisions and amendments to those policies that specifically address the topics of sexual orientation and gender identification/expression as they relate to harassment and bullying. https://capta.org/focus-areas/community-concerns/lgbtqia/
- Use the Welcoming Schools Checklist to see how your PTA is doing in welcoming all families into your school. http://downloads.capta.org/hea/WelcomingSchools_Checklist.pdf
- Use the California State PTA Position Statements and Resolutions as you do studies of local legislation that impacts families of LGBTQIA+ students. If you need support in this process, reach out to your Council or District Board and they can support you.
Click here to read part 1 of this series.
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