San Francisco (February 9, 2022) - The San Francisco Board of Education approved a resolution affirming the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ students and calling on the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to create a Queer Transgender Parent Advisory Council (QTPAC).
The resolution, “In Support of Equitable Representation and Services for Two-Spirit Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) Parents and Families and Creation of a Queer Transgender Parent Advisory Council (QTPAC),” was authored by Commissioner Alison M. Collins.
"I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with families in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to bring this resolution to the Board,” Commissioner Collins said. “As one of the founding members of the African American Parent Advisory Council, I have seen how affinity groups have been a lever of change in our district. I am grateful to families who have advocated for more gender inclusive practices in our schools. I am grateful that an official Queer Trans Parent Advisory Council (QTPAC) will join other parent advisory groups in being a critical voice for students and families who have too often gone unseen in our district.”
The QTPAC will report to the Board on a yearly basis in the month of April during SFUSD Pride month, to make recommendations to improve experiences for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and families and to increase curriculum and visibility of LGBTQ history and culture. The QTPAC will also collaborate with other parent advisory committees/councils as well as community based agencies and organizations serving the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Per the resolution, SFUSD will ensure district staff include 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility and history in Equity Studies Community Task Force work, including recommended books, curriculum, school celebrations and classroom posters, murals and art. District staff will also continue to work across departments to procure inexpensive signage options for school sites to ensure single stall restrooms have all gender signage and are ADA compliant according to state law.
District staff will continue their efforts to bring all parent/caregiver and student forms and communiques into alignment with state law regarding gender options as well as SFUSD inclusive language policies through the creation of district-wide protocols. The resolution also directs the Superintendent to work with staff to identify the resources required to develop an implementation plan that includes a budget analysis to identify a minimum level of staffing and funding to accomplish the goals set forth in this resolution as well as audit the current levels of funding programming for LGBTQ Student Services that includes Genders & Sexualities Alliances (GSAs), psycho-educational supports such as QGroup and district-wide student voice and leadership such as the Queer Trans Advisory Council (QTAC).
SFUSD has long been a nationwide leader in celebrating and supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth and families. Since 1990, SFUSD’s LGBTQ Student Services (part of the Student & Family Services Division) has spearheaded making all San Francisco public schools welcoming and affirming for LGBTQ students and families.
The San Francisco Board of Education has passed multiple resolutions in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ students and community, including SFUSD Board of Education Policy #19-245pl (now codified in Board Policy and Administrative Regulations 5145.3 and 5145.4) on Family Diversity and Health Education; SFUSD Board of Education Resolution #610-8A6 on Meeting the Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in 1996, SFUSD Board of Education Resolution #912-8A3 on Strengthening the Anti-Discrimination Program in Schools in Order to Effect a Healthier Learning Environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) students in 2010; and SFUSD Board of Education Resolution #165-24A2 in Support that SFUSD Strengthen and Advance Gender-Inclusive Policies and Education in 2016.
View the full resolution here.
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