Protect In-School Supports for Queer and Trans Youth
Last week, the grey carpeted floor and brown walls of the John Stanford Center’s auditorium contrasted with a sea of colorful signs flooding the seating area and lobby. Signs with rainbow font reading “No more cuts”, “How can we feel present in school if our presence is disregarded?”,“Protect trans youth”, and my personal favorite- an angry meme face with a rainbow background.
Dozens of students, families, and educators showed OUT in queer and trans pride colors to speak out for funding the LGBTQ+ project Program Coordinator position in SPS. This position is at threat to be eliminated, and queer and trans community in Seattle Public Schools is not having it.
The LGBTQ+ project Program position has been historically funded by the Center for Disease Control’s “What Works in Schools Grant”. The current administration has slashed this funding as part of recent budget cuts led by Elon Musk’s illegitimate “Department of Government Efficiency.” These budget cuts include the slashing of USAID (United States Agency for International Development), EPA (Environment Protection Agency), and now Center for Disease Control (CDC) funding. These departments have held longtime projects providing life-sustaining services for people worldwide and for the Earth. In yet another move threatening the safety and well-being of queer and trans people under this regime, CDC cuts have put the LGBTQ+ Project program Coordinator position at risk.
The LGBTQ+ Project Program Coordinator is the ONLY position in SPS dedicated to supporting queer and trans youth and families. Folks leading this position train up staff district-wide in how to support LGBTQ+ students, support Gay-Straight Alliance and Rainbow clubs, advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ students and families, organize beautiful, life-affirming community events, and much more. These are supports we NEED to feel safe, supported, and welcomed in the Seattle Public school system… but don’t take it from me, take it from the brilliant youth that spoke at last week’s school board meeting. Below are some videos of students from Cleveland, take a look:
Students also spoke out about migrant rights, getting ICE out of schools, support for Filipino students, and calling for the preservation of staff jobs and class sizes:
Now that you’re all caught up on the mess, what can you do about it?
We invite you to speak out with us and call for both local and statewide LGBTQ+ protections in public schools.
You can start by calling for the Seattle Public Schools’ Board to stick to their values, and find alternative funding for the LGBTQ+ Project Program Coordinator position. They opened the school board meeting saying, “As we navigate the constantly changing landscape, we are steadfast in our values and will continue to ensure that every student in Seattle Public Schools receives a high quality education with the supports that they need to thrive,” - specifically naming supporting students of all gender identities, sexual orientations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and immigration statuses as a priority. We invite you to invite the accountability of the school board to their values, and ensure this position remains funded. You’re welcome to take inspiration from our letter to the school board and write your own to send to your district representative, or sign up to speak at the next school board meeting.
District Representative info: https://www.seattleschools.org/about/school-board/
School Board Meeting Testimony sign-up (must sign up 8am sharp the Monday before the meeting, next board meeting is April 23, 2025 at 4:15pm): https://forms.office.com/r/5AAp04S4WD
Next, you can move on up to state-level protections and urge your senator to vote YES on HB1296. This bill:
Protects student rights to free speech and non-discrimination
Protects educators from their job status being threatened if they support student rights
Mandates policies around gender-inclusive schools and protections for trans students
And promotes the use of culturally responsive instructional materials
HB1296 is currently moving through the senate, you can follow it’s path here and sign up for testimony here.
Now is the time to show up. No matter what happens at the federal level, or even at the state level, we got each other. I’m honored to fight alongside all my fellow queer and trans educators and students. I am deeply grateful for all of those fighting alongside us. Here’s to our commitment to each other, to our hope, and to our survival.
