The Stand Up To Hate Forum that occurred on Oct. 20 was an event set up by students to educate community members and more specifically to make sure district leaders heard LGBTQIA+ students’ voices about the struggles they face on a daily basis. Testimonials from students show the vulnerability and traumatic experiences being queer and the school not doing enough to prevent acts of hate.
Following the Coming Out event, district officials have started pushing for change along with the students. |
Two days after the forum, Dubost met with 12 of the students who spoke at the forum in efforts to develop an action plan. While the district refused to change the 2x3 Pride flag limit, efforts are being made to implement better LGBTQIA+ education, health, and inclusiveness. PRJUSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dubost, Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Gaviola, and PRHS Principal Anthony Overton met with the students once a week during Wednesday tutorials to discuss what can be done to make students feel safe on campus. This group will continue to meet in the following months at least once a month
“It is absolutely essential to meet and discuss the safety and support of a student group who feels marginalized or threatened at our school site,” Gaviola said. On Nov. 10, Gaviola, Dubost, and Overton released a statement regarding the “Next Steps on PRJUSD Continuous Improvement and Support for LGBQT+ Students,” via Parent Square, the district’s email and text app. The email summarized eight action items to help and continue to support LGBTQIA+ individuals and reached out to all students on campus. The actions, which they plan to implement by the end of the academic year, include training of staff on LGBTQ+ rights, safe changing places for trans students, and an audit of history curriculum to ensure inclusion of LGBTQ+ history in accordance with state laws. A task force of students, teachers, stakeholders, and administrators will oversee the action plan. The district plans to implement these goals by the end of the school year while working closely with students, staff, and people influenced by the hate crime. |
Due to the big spark that this event has, community members have reached out to support these students. An anonymous source donated money to student clubs in order to give teachers 2x3 pride flags to hang in their classes. John Laird, California state senator representing Paso Robles, has requested a meeting with the forum students on November 18. Senator Laird is the first openly gay California state senator and is a leader in statewide LGBTQ+ legislative initiatives.
In the future, the students and staff hope to create a safe place for LGBTQIA+ students. Education about sexual identities, gender neutral bathrooms, training for teachers, and enforcing stricter punshiments are topics being discussed at meetings. A council of students that decision makers consult before implementing policies that affect marginalized students are working on creating a safe place for queer people on campus.