February 24, 2019 Meeting Minutes

Events

  • The Austin Pride Essay Contest is open to all Central Texas high school students. The deadline for submission is May 13, 2019, and the grand prize is $1000.​​ See the file below for more info.

AISD Sex Ed

  • Some parents filed a greivance against the School Health Advisory Council and tried to have them disbanned.

  • Parents want a sex ed curriculum that goes against the National Sexuality Education Standards and has no mention of gender or sexual orientation.

University of Texas Stories and Numbers Project

  • Facts based on 10+ years worth of research on LGBTQ+ students

    • LGB students have double and triple the rates of harassment in schools compared to cishet students (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Fort Worth and Houston).

    • Double the number of trans students report they are feeling unsafe at school compared to cisgender students (Info from trans* youth in AISD).

    • LGBT students have higher rates of mental health issues and substance abuse, and often have worse grades than straight counterparts.

    • Texas does not have a state-level inclusive policy.

  • School LGBTQ+ policy strategies associated with student well-being

    • Enumerated policies (policies that specifically list the categories that the policies protect) work better than general policies

  • Recommendations

    • Ideally, we would have state-level policies, and right now, 18 states do have policies.

    • Professional development in LGBTQ+ issues

    • Administrative support is important

    • Schools of education are an important point of intervention. You can get a graduate degree in education without ever learning about LGBTQ+ issues, and this is a problem.

    • Texas Classroom Teachers association can offer it as an extension, but it should be required.

    • Parents and students should request professional development training for their teachers and administrators.

    • Inclusive curricula development; infuse curriculum with LGBTQ+ topics and history.

    • Posters

    • Safe spaces

    • School personnel can be a good resource if they make students feel safe.

    • Student-led school clubs like GSAs.

      • Young people supporting each others and making change

      • Schools with GSAs have reductions in mental health risk, better grades, less substance use

      • Benefits are not only limited to students in GSAs, the existence of these clubs makes the whole school better!

      • A school’s administration cannot tell you that you can’t have a GSA in your school

    • Recommendations for trans and gender non-conforming students

      • Lack of information about trans and gender non-conforming people

      • Don’t traditionally ask gender identity questions on surveys

      • Use chosen names and pronouns--reductions in mental health risk

      • Advocate for them on school forms

  • The Texas GSA Network wants to hear your stories!

    • Contact heather.frederick@outyouth.org or heather.frederick@texasgsanetwork.org if you're interested in participating.

    • They want a mix of both polished and homemade videos, so you can email a video taken with your phone, or you can contact Heather Frederick if you're interested in working with a videographer.

    • They also need quotes from you.

    • Send in any stories related to the recommendations.

    • Parents, faculty, teachers, students, and community members are welcome to participate.

Elle Smith