This is the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance's monthly newsletter. Our vision is to empower and affirm the LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families of PSUSD by developing policy, implementing trainings, and increasing student, parent, and community engagement.

In this issue of Shout Outs you will find resources for celebrating Women's History Month, a spotlight on the work the Equality California Mentorship Corps is doing at Desert Hot Springs High School, and updates from GSAs around the district.

You can also find great resources, including the Alliance's Year at a Glance calendar, helpful glossaries of terms, a staff resource library, and more!

🌈PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance

📧 lgbtq@psusd.us

The Equality California Mentorship Corps currently has mentors working with kids at Desert Hot Springs High School, Raymond Cree Middle School, Nellie Coffman Middle School, Desert Springs Middle School, and Painted Hills Middle School.

Big thanks go out to Ariana Ashley, the mentor at Desert Hot Springs High School, for sharing this update on the work being done there. More updates from other schools to come in our April and May issues!

Desert Hot Springs High School is proud to say that they now have an AmeriCorps Equality California mentor and has been wholly involved in the process of finding students fit for the program. While the high school already placed high priority on mental health, visible by their Wellness Center that provides a number of counselors in addition to the already established academic counselors, they were please to take on someone meant specifically for their LGBTQIA+ populace. It can be reported that DHSHS was lucky enough to have a campus and staff that was already very open-minded, receptive, and supportive, allowing LGBTQIA+ students the freedom to express and act on both their gender and sexual identities. As such, the EQCA mentorship program at DHSHS is growing to become more of a sense of empowerment for the students rather than a safe haven, as the students already view the high school as a safe space. Of course, that’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvements, in which the high school staff remains thoughtful and eager to adapt so they can learn ways to be better inclusive, supportive, and accommodating. While still establishing itself in the Desert Hot Springs High School culture, the mentorship program is steadily implementing successfully and can prove to be a lasting school site for all future mentors within the Palm Springs Unified School District.

Women's History Month is celebrated annually in March and is an opportunity to celebrate women and their often overlooked contributions to U.S. History. GLAAD has compiled a page of media featuring queer and trans women's stories - see the link below! Additionally, We Are Teachers has compiled a great list of Women's History Month activities for all grades.

The members of the CYES Rainbow Club share what the club means to them in this video!

At the end of February students at CYES got a special visit from Lex Ortega, Director of Education and Advocacy at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. Lex shared all about the programs offered at The Center and upcoming youth gatherings! They also shared stickers with the kids, which were put to good use! CY Rainbow Club members passed the stickers to classmates at recess and told them what Rainbow Club is all about. The kids are really excited about growing the club's membership and have also made posters to hang around campus.

We want to celebrate YOU!!

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

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

Click the image to view the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance 2022-2023 Year at a Glance! Here you'll find training opportunities, GSA meeting dates, community events, and more.

If you would like your school's event or GSA meeting dates added to the calendar, email the PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance at lgbtq@psusd.us.

Brave Spaces Parents is hosted by the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. Meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Brave Spaces is a support group for adult family members and allies of transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive tweens and young teens. The mission of this group is to create a safe/brave peer community where adults can support each other and find helpful tools on the parenting journey. One-on-one parent support/education meetings are also available for parents seeking additional resources.

All are welcome to attend the LGBTQ+ Parent Advisory Committee meetings to offer input and learn about supports and services offered in PSUSD.

Please share these flyers with the families at your school!

Email: lgbtq@psusd.us

March 2022

April 2022

May 2022

June 2022

August 2022

September 2022

October 2022

November 2022

December 2022

February 2023