Creating Safe and Compliant Programs for�LGBTQ Students

_{Rob Darrow, Ed.D. Director of Research �Safe Schools Project, Santa Cruz County. �CCSESA SPSCC. September 2017}

Rob’s Website: www.RobDarrow.us

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

This is a Safe Space

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Who am I? Who are you?�What is my identity?�What is your identity?

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

My Lens Today

• What makes schools safe and affirming ? (Especially for LGBTQ Youth)
• Current laws
• How you can be proactive

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

A little history: �LGBTQ Terms and Year First Used

• L = Lesbian (1732)
• G = Gay (1955)
• B = Bisexual (1960)
• T = Transgender (1990)
• Q = Queer / Questioning (1894, 1990)

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

What barriers prevent us from embracing that �common humanity?

• Share one or two ideas with someone near you.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Why this matters:�A Few Stories

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Frank Kameny

• 1925 – Born in NY
• 1941 – Joined Army
• 1956 – Harvard: Doctorate in Astronomy
• 1957 – Hired by U.S. Army Map Service – Produced maps for U.S. military

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Frank Kameny

• 1953: President Eisenhower signs Executive Order 10450.
• “Immoral and sexual perversion were a security risk – sexual deviants” (In place until 1975).
• 1957: Kameny released from government service
• 1960: Files lawsuit. Supreme Court denies claim. First civil rights claim based on sexual orientation
• 1960: Forms Mattachine Society in Washington DC to advocate for gay people.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Frank Kameny

• 1965: First of many protests at the White House
• 1973: Lobbies American Psychological Association to remove gay/lesbian as a disease.
• 2010: Present at the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” signed by President Obama
• 2011: Dies at age 86

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

David Schroer

• 1959: Born in Chicago
• 1979: Joins the military
• Special Forces Commander
• Haiti Special Forces Commander
• Post 911 Coordinated Secret Counterterrorism Unit in Pentagon
• Briefed VP Dick Cheney on secret missions
• 2004: Retires from Military
• 2005: Applies for job with Library of Congress. Job Offered.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Diane Schroer

• Shares that she is transitioning to Diane (Transgender male to female). �Library of Congress rescinds job offer.
• 2005 – Files employment lawsuit – Title VII (Schroer v. Billington – Library of Congress)
• 2008 – U.S. District Court – Discrimination and $500,000 awarded
• Works in Pentagon advising transgender affairs

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Ronin Shimizu

• 2^nd Grade: Joins Cub Scouts
• 4^th Grade: Became a cheerleader – Vista Junior Eagles Cheer Team
• Enjoyed art and fashion – made his own clothes

• 2002: Born in Folsom, Ca

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Ronin Shimizu

• 2008: Began being bullied and taunted with: “gay,” “girly” and “a fag,”
• 2008-2012: Moved to different schools to escape the bullying
• 2012: Awoke every day worried about who would pick on him.
• 2014: Removed from school, placed on Independent Study program

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Ronin Shimizu

• 2014 (December): �Took his own life (Age 12)

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Every community impacted by student suicide, bullying, harassment �Many related to LGBT harassment �- if reported -

• Santa Clara County
• Kern County (Seth’s Law, 2010)
• Santa Cruz County
• Santa Barbara County
• Los Angeles County
• San Francisco County
• San Diego County

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Stats

• 20% of homeless youth are LGBT youth.
• 63% of LGBT students in California report being harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression (2015, GLSEN)
• But, very few of them reported
• More than 30% of all students reported being bullied or harassed in California (Ca Healthy Kids Survey, 2013)

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Many Variables Impact Student Achievement

• Learning styles
• Home life
• Culture
• School and school culture
• Friends
• Teachers, Counselors, Administrators
• Curriculum

Students

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

5 Variables that impact Safe and Affirming Schools…�Especially for LGBTQ Youth

• 1. Administrative leaders
• policies and actions that create a culture of acceptance and inclusiveness
• 2. Teacher and Curriculum leaders
• LGBT history integrated into various courses, school library books, inclusive sex education

Darrow, R. (2015). Implementation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Inclusive Policies and Curriculum in California School Districts and Recommendations for Creating Safe School Environments.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

5 Variables that impact Safe and Affirming Schools…�Especially for LGBTQ Youth

• 3. Student leaders
• Gay straight alliances, yearly supportive events e.g. National Coming Out Day or Day of Silence
• 4. Health leaders
• HIV prevention / Sex Education
• 5. Mental health leaders
• ongoing programs to promote wellness and reduce bullying, sexual assault and suicide

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

The Laws

• 2016 – Suicide Prevention Policies in Schools
• 2015 – California Healthy Youth Act: Sex Ed and HIV education must be inclusive.
• 2013 –School Success and Opportunity Act: Transgender youth
• 2011 –Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful (FAIR) Act. LGBT history in curriculum.

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The Bottom Line

• We want all students to be successful in school – to be engaged and happy – and to be college and career ready.
• If school is safe and affirming for LGBTQ students – it will be safe and affirming for all students.
• More cost effective when students graduate from high school

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Curriculum as a Mirror / Window

• Think about how school curriculum is a mirror (reflecting who you are) and a window (looking at others experiences)
• Share your ideas

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

A little history: �History Curriculum in Ca

• 1998: New Ca History Standards – first state to adopt such standards. New textbooks.
• 2010: Common Core Adopted.
• 2011: Fair Education Act Passed. Added Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans to the curriculum – especially related to history.
• 2016: New State History Framework
• 2017: K-8 History Textbook Adoptions � (State Board vote in Nov. 2017)

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

State History Framework – 11^th Grade Themes

• Romantic Friendships Increase Women’s Rights (1890-1930)
• Gays in the Military from the Civil War to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (1860-2010)
• Harlem Renaissance: As Gay as it was Black (1917-1935)
• The Lavender Scare and the 1950s (1918-2011)
• Amendments, Laws and Court Decisions Expand Equality (1868-2015)

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Various Social Movements

• Latinx (gender inclusive term)
• African American
• Asian
• Civil Rights
• Women
• Gay and Lesbian
• Transgender

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Intersectionality Lens

•  Intersectionality is an important lens that is used to better understand the lived experiences of individuals across identities, both those identities� that hold power in society, as well as those that �experience marginalization in society

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(Warner & Shields, 2013).

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Where is the intersection between ethnicity, gender and LGBT history?

• “I was black before I was a lesbian.”
• “As a Latino gay man, I still live in a world where I seem to be asked to pick one community over another. It’s time for America to realize that there is not one type of ‘experience.’ Everyone has their own history, culture and traditions.”�- Mexican-American lesbian

Human Rights Campaign. At the Intersection: Race, Sexuality and Gender. 2009.

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Questions to Consider?

• Does it matter if a person in history was male or female?
• Does it matter if a person in history was white, African American or LatinX or Asian?
• Does it matter if a person in history was gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender?

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Questions to Consider

• Are these groups treated differently?�Marginalized vs. Non-Marginalized? �Are there different levels of privilege?
• African American gay male
• White straight female
• LatinX lesbian female
• Asian Transgender female
• White straight male
• Latinx bisexual male

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

What is happening where �you are?

• What do you do in your County Office or school district or schools to promote safe and inclusive schools?
• Administratively
• Teachers
• Students
• Support Staff

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

You Can Be Proactive – 5 Ps

• Policies (Consider adding LGBTQ to LCAP or School Safety Plans)
• Put a rainbow flag or safe space symbol in your office
• Power of presence. Visit a GSA in your county and ask them to share with you if they feel safe.
• Participate in national coming out day or day of silence.
• Promote safe schools every day…in your words and in your actions

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Ideas from Santa Cruz County

• LGBTQ Task Force – Countywide
• School District LGBTQ Task Force
• SCCOE website has resources for LGBTQ families
• Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards
• Safe Schools Project – reactive and proactive
• Organization: The Diversity Center

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Support for You

• Curriculum, LGBT History (see hand out)
• Curriculum, Comprehensive and Inclusive Sex Ed, Cardea Organization
• Safe Schools Environment
• Strategic Implementation of safe and inclusive school variables (administrators, teachers, students, health and mental health professionals)

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Comprehensive Sex Education Networks by Cardea:

• CSE Networks: County Level
• In 9 counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Orange, San Bernardino, LACOE and San Diego)
• Technical Assistance for Districts
• Updating policies, monitoring and evaluation
• Teacher Professional Learning (School or District Level)
• http://www.cardeaservices.org/

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Equality Schools Indexes

• Campus Pride Index: https://www.campusprideindex.org/
• Equality California – Safe and Supportive School Quality Index (To be distributed for the first time at end of September to selected unified districts)�http://www.eqca.org/bay-area-reporter-political-notebook-eqca-to-grade-ca-public-schools-on-lgbt-policies/

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Further Reading

• robdarrow.wikispaces.com
• Curriculum as a Mirror and a Window.
• GLAAD
• GLSEN

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CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.

Contact Info

• Rob@Onlinelearningvisions.com

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Rob’s Wiki: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

CCSESA - SPSSC . Sept. 2017.