Public schools across the country are continuing to support and to protect the rights of transgender and gender expansive youth despite the Department of Education and Department of Justice’s recent announcement that they were going to rescind the instruction and guidance regarding Title IX provided to schools across the country on how to create welcoming, safe, and supportive school environments.
We applaud the long-term commitment school districts have made to ensure that all youth, and particularly LGBTQ+ youth, are able to access safe, welcoming, and inclusive school environments that allow them to be free from discrimination and harassment in accordance with federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws and policies. Even as we witness a surge in the introduction of “religious freedom” and “bathroom bills” at the state level, many districts continue to implement policies that support and protect transgender and gender expansive students across the Southeast and Midwest.
The Stonewall National National Education Project 2017 Symposium, presented by Stonewall National Museum and Archives, was held on March 15-19 in partnership with GSA Network and brought together 125 representatives from 25 school districts, four state education agencies, and 25 local and national nonprofit organizations. We gathered for three days to focus on strategizing, sharing, and learning ways to center transgender and queer youth of color in our work, while continuing to protect and preserve the progress we’ve made to support LGBTQ youth over the past five to ten years. The Symposium is an example of the continued work that various agencies continue to push forward and symbolizes the ongoing commitment across the country to support and empower young people in our communities.
ACT NOW!
GSA Network, along with trans and queer youth across the country, are asking that more school districts take action to support and to protect the rights of transgender and gender expansive students all across the US.
Here are a few ways that you can help your school or school district start creating safe and supportive school environments for transgender and gender expansive youth:
Review local district policies for inclusion of policies that support LGBTQ youth
Develop implementation guidelines, if supportive policies exist
Create practical guidelines for school staff, parents, etc., if policies do not exist
Support the establishment of a GSA Club or similar student-led club on your campus
Work with student leaders to develop campaigns on transgender visibility and around supporting transgender and gender expansive youth
Here is a full list of public schools across 12 states and the District of Columbia that support the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming students:
California
- Oakland Unified School District
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- San Diego Unified School District
- San Francisco Unified School District
- Healthier SF
District of Columbia
- DC Public Schools
Florida
- Broward County Public Schools
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Illinois
- Chicago Public Schools
- Chicago PS Transgender Student Support Guidelines
Massachusetts
- Boston Public Schools
Minnesota
- Minneapolis Public Schools
New York
- New York City Department of Education
Ohio
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Oregon
- Portland Public Schools
Pennsylvania
- The School District of Philadelphia
Rhode Island
- Providence Public Schools
Texas
- Houston Independent School District
- Ft Worth Independent School District
- Ft Worth Policy
Washington
- Seattle Public Schools
If you are a teacher or school administrator and want more information about how your school district can create safe school environments for trans, gender nonconforming, and gender expansive students, please check out our online resources for Adults and Advisors. If you are a student and don’t see your school district listed above, check out our online resources to help transform your school.