Let's stay connected! All across our district there are school leaders, staff members, students, and community members doing great work to make PSUSD a welcoming and safe place for all.

We are stronger when we work together! This newsletter is a place to share our successes, promote upcoming events, and celebrate our LGBTQ students, staff, and families.

Thanks for all that you do,

🌈PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance

📧 lgbtq@psusd.us

If you would like your school featured in next month's newsletter, send updates and pictures to Annie Axsom at aaxsom@psusd.us!

Check out these great photos of the Alliance Club at Raymond Cree playing Uno and writing thank you cards to staff members who sponsored club t-shirts for the students!

Fourth graders at Cabot Yerxa Elementary School demonstrate their pride through various forms of art!

Our purpose is to empower and affirm the LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families of PSUSD by combating systemic inequities in our policies and curricula.

We will develop policy, implement professional development and training, and increase student, parent, and community engagement.

Hopefully you've seen these posters popping up in your schools' front offices. The LGBTQ Alliance requested that the Office of the Superintendent provide these posters for all school sites and administrative workplaces. Visibility is key!

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance has advocated for and secured:

1. Mandatory trainings for all district staff: all district staff are now required to complete an annual training on Keenan Safe Schools entitled Making Schools Safe and Inclusive for LGBTQ Students.
2. Gender Support Plans for gender-fluid, transgender, and non-binary youth: school sites now have staff members trained in the use of these forms.
3. More inclusive coding on Synergy: Synergy now includes a column to account for non-binary youth on rosters.
4. Inclusive literature: thanks to a generous donation by GenderNation, all elementary school libraries in PSUSD now have a variety books featuring LGBTQ characters on their shelves.
5. Visibility: The LGBTQ Alliance has produced and distributed posters and t-shirts advocating welcoming and inclusive schools. Members of the LGBTQ Alliance also marched with GSAs, students, and families in the 2020 Palm Springs Pride Parade.

The PSUSD LGBTQ Alliance is currently advocating for:

1. GSA Clubs at every school site
2. Further staff training on creating safe spaces and understanding legal obligations as they pertain to LGBTQ students
3. Increased community engagement and collaboration
4. An LGBTQ+ affirming school board resolution

Email: lgbtq@psusd.us