Happy Pride Month! This is the last issue of Shout Outs for the 2021-2022 school year, and this one's all about PROGRESS!

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance's vision is to empower and affirm the LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families of PSUSD. Here's a look back at the strides that have been made toward this goal over the course of the last year.

Please join us in celebrating these achievements... and take time to reflect on accomplishments you've seen at your own school site this year!

🌈PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance

📧 lgbtq@psusd.us

One key focus of the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance's mission is to increase visibility of affirming symbols across the district.

Our committee designed posters to welcome diverse students and distribute our contact information. The Office of the Superintendent approved the design and provided the posters for all school sites and administrative workplaces!

The "Be Proud" design was also created by the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance and printed on shirts, posters, and pins, which have been distributed to staff members and students across the district!

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance also demonstrated visible support of our students, staff, and families by marching in the Palm Springs Pride Parade with local GSAs!

This year the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance hosted two district-wide GSA meetings over Zoom in an effort to bring together students and teachers from across the district. We are excited to expand these efforts next year!

In addition to all of these amazing advancements in increasing visibility and support, the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance also published four issues of this very newsletter with the goal of shining a spotlight on all of the great work being done at all levels across the district.

In addition to increasing visible support for LGBTQ students, staff, and families, our committee has also worked to address inequities in policy and curricula in PSUSD.

Here are some changes that have been made so far!

1. Gender Support Plans for gender-fluid, transgender, and non-binary youth: school sites now have staff members trained in the use of these forms.
2. More inclusive coding on Synergy: Synergy now includes a column to account for non-binary youth on rosters.
3. Inclusive literature: thanks to a generous donation by Open Books, all elementary school libraries in PSUSD now have a variety books featuring LGBTQ characters on their shelves.

In addition to visibility and equitable policies and curricula, the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance has worked to secure training and professional development opportunities for district staff. All district staff are now required to complete an annual training on Keenan Safe School entitled Making Schools Safe and Inclusive for LGBTQ Students.

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance has also obtained district approval to post training opportunities on PD Links. At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year all district staff will have the opportunity to sign up for two paid trainings: An Exploration into SOGI: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Schools and Creating a Safe Space - Legal Obligations in Today's Classroom

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance is currently advocating for:

1. GSA Clubs at every school site, K-12
2. Increased community engagement and collaboration
3. An LGBTQ+ affirming school board resolution

If you would like your school featured in the next newsletter,

send updates and pictures to Annie Axsom at aaxsom@psusd.us!

Email: lgbtq@psusd.us

March 2022

April 2022

May 2022

Pride Month graphics credited to Vecteezy.com