Regarding Clovis Unified’s Forced Outing Policy
We have learned that this school year, Clovis Unified replaced their “Gender Affirming Plan,” which acknowledged the harm that may happen to students when they are outed against their will and before they’re ready, with a “Student Site Plan” which requires parental notification and consent. As the policy is written, it forces trans and non-binary students to choose one option: either A) be forcibly outed to parents, or B) forcibly socially destransitioned/deadnamed at school.
The cruelty inherent in this new plan goes further. For students who report to SSP administrators that their guardians may react poorly to the disclosure that they are trans or gender-diverse, the Administrative Guidance around the SSP directs staff to file a report to CPS. It is nearly inevitable that the youth would be outed to the parents during an investigation of this sort, and in the most difficult, abrupt, and invasive way possible. Thus, CUSD would actually create the very scenario of danger that the student feared and had worked to avoid. Clovis punishes the youth for the fear and ignorance of the parents.
Read our open letter which we are sending to all Clovis School Board members and administrators.
Our LGBTQ+ Youth need you to stand up for them. Join us at the Clovis School Board Meeting Wednesday September 20th at 6:30PM at 1680 David E. Cook Way in Clovis. In order to speak in support of our youth, you must arrive early and pre-register to ‘give a presentation’ during the public comments section, per the Clovis School Board rules.
Can’t come this Wednesday? Write the board! Write the administrators! Write the Fresno Bee!
Our colleagues and allies at LGBT Fresno have made it very easy to get your email to the people who need to hear how harmful forced outing is to our community. Visit lgbtfresno.com/CUSD to find out more and send a bulk email to all of them at one time. Use this opportunity to tell your story, to share how you or people you love are impacted by this.
And prepare for a long fight for our youth. If you can’t come this month, show up next month or the month after- until they stop this atrocious policy that harms our LGBTQ+ youth!
FURTHER RESOURCES
PFLAG Fresno’s list of local and national resources (Also we have a monthly support group and educational presentation for families, friends, allies, parents, and the LGBTQ+ community every second Sunday from 2-4)
PFLAG publications in PDF form which can be read online (English & Spanish language available)
How You Can Help/How to be an Ally
PFLAG National’s Straight 4 Equality Ally Program: Interactive & engaging learning sessions, resources, programs, and more for allies
And the PFLAG publications
National Center for Trans Equality’s Resource on How to Support the Transgender People in Your Life
LGBTQ+ Youth in General
The Family Acceptance Project- Educational Resources to Help Improve the Lives of LGBTQ+ Youth
California Laws & Policies Protecting LGBTQ Youth From Discrimination
My Kid Is Gay: Helping Families Understand Their LGBTQ+ Kids
Good Transfolk Instagram follows to listen to trans voices & learn how to be a better ally
Dolly Jaye Jenkins, @well_hello_dollyjaye – Transfemme giving great allyship advice
Parents of Trans Youth: @parentsoftransyouth -- Tips, tools + resources for parents who their trans kids. Run by a mom of a trans kid in Texas.
Trans Family Alliance: @transfamilyalliance - Support Community & Resource Hub for Parents of Transgender Kids & Adults. Has online support groups for parents and guardians.
Alo Johnson, LMFT: @thetranstherapist – practical advice and information, recently wrote a great book, Am I Trans Enough
Alok Menon — Non-binary speaker, poet, advocate for love
Schuylar Bailar — Trans athlete, great at breaking down complex subject r/t trans people in sports
Meg Emiko — Asian American trans non-binary artist & activist, neurodivergent- does wonderful educative reels
Chris Mosier — 1st transathlete to make men’s Team USA. All-American, 3x National Champion; speaks re: trans people in sports
Imara Jones — Award winning journalist, telling trans stories. Founder of @translashmedia & The Anti Trans Hate Machine investigative journalism podcast detailing the rise of anti-trans legislation
Trans Youth in Specific
Statements in support of gender affirming care by national medical organizations
Gender Spectrum (our favorite national resource for learning about gender & trans/gender expansive youth needs)
The Trevor Project Film, ‘Learn With Love,’ uplifting trans youths’ stories
New York Times article referenced in presentation: How A Campaign Against Transgender Rights Mobilized Conservatives
Helplines and Hotlines
The Trevor Project- free, 24/7/365 crisis counseling for LGBTQ+ people
Text START to 678678
TransLifeLine – run by trans people, for trans people
Crisis Lifeline staffed by mental health counselors with at least one marginalized identity
Text 1-313-662-8209
LGBT National Support Hotline (peer support, info, resources)
PFLAG Fresno “Warmline” (volunteer staffed for local resources/information only, not a crisis line)
988 – the National Suicide Prevention & Crisis Hotline
Simply dial 988 instead of 911