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.

October is nationally recognized as LGBTQ+ History Month! Read on for resources to share with staff, students, and families to celebrate this month. Additionally, this October issue of the Shout Outs Newsletter is chock full of updates from GSAs across the district, as well as some great information about mentoring work being done in our middle schools by the Equality California Institute.

You can also find great resources, including the Alliance's master calendar for the year, helpful glossaries of terms, updates on GSA clubs, a staff resource library, and more!

🌈PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance

📧 lgbtq@psusd.us

October is a great month to celebrate LGBTQ+ icons from around the world, increase visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community, and spread joy and allyship!

Additionally, October 11th is National Coming Out Day!

Check out the resources below - they can be used in school sites, workplaces, and shared with families!

The DHSHS GSA is proud to announce that they have received one of the $500 grants from the Palm Spring's Gay Men's Chorus Anti-Bullying Fund! The funds will be used to order DHSHS merchandise in pride colors to be sold in the student store at school. This will help raise additional funds and help with LGBTQ+ visibility on campus.

The DSMS GSA has had two meetings so far this year! They have worked on creating bylaws for their group... and they have also decided which snacks to prioritize for their meetings :)

The members have also shared personal stories on why or how they are connected to the LGBTQ+ community, which has helped their club form a safe space.

The MSJ - DHS GSA has been hosting weekly meetings and recently enjoyed a movie night screening the film "Milk". Their student members are also greatly looking forward to attending the Pride parade in Palm Springs in November!

The MSJ GSA in Cathedral City is also a proud recipient of the Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus Grant! The funds were used to print t-shirts for the club. Pictured are staff members wearing the new shirts! These staff members rotate through the GSA's weekly Tuesday lunch meetings to provide support and celebrate members of the club.

Cabot Yerxa ES had their very first Rainbow Club meeting on September 8th! 5 students attended and were excited to share their ideas and expecations for the Rainbow Club. The kids curated a list of all the words they associate with the rainbow flag.

In future meetings, they are looking forward to making a giant Pride banner for the school, crafting friendship bracelets, learning about their own identities, and educating their peers.

The Cabot Yerxa ES Rainbow Club is also a proud recipient for the Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus Grant! The funds will be used to purchase materials for Rainbow Club activities such as crafts, posters, and t-shirts.

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!

For twenty years, Equality California Institute (EQCAI) has worked in partnership with community organizations and leaders across the state of California to improve the lives of LGBTQ Californians through policy, education, and collaboration. The Equality California Mentorship Corps has placed AmeriCorps Members at middle schools in Palm Springs Unified to provide LGBTQ-inclusive mentorship focused on social and emotional learning.

Mentorship sessions are weekly and delivered one-on-one, giving students an opportunity to focus on personal growth, socio-emotional wellbeing, leadership development, and goal setting.

Members also support school GSAs and work with local non-profits on youth-focused programming. This program connects mentors who are eager to support the development of an inclusive school climate with schools and students who are eager to do the same.

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