Honoring and supporting LGBTQIA2+ students and PAT members is more important than ever. HRC reports, “So far this year, we’ve seen more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in states across the country. Many of these discriminatory bills target transgender kids, including dozens upon dozens of bills threatening to prevent them from receiving life-saving health care.” Just a few weeks ago one of our PPS elementary schools and staff members received threats over an upcoming pride event, resulting in the cancelation of the event over concerns for student safety. 

What can we do? Keep centering our students, keep doing the work to educate our community and each other, and keep our daily commitment to see and understand how intersectional identities exist in our schools and the joy, brilliance, beauty that comes from that. At the last quarterly meeting, SJCO was fortunate to have a member in attendance with vast experience centering LGBTQIA2+ students and allies.

They generously shared many materials developed in collaboration with students; due to threats to their personal safety, the Pride Resources are being re-worked to protect their identity before being made available on the PAT website. They also provided some information about GSA’s; Part 1 is below, “What is a GSA?”. Look for Part 2, “Why Elementary GSA’s Are Important,” in the next Advocate. Also, if you have materials to submit for Pride or any other History month, please email [email protected] and [email protected].