FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 7, 2023
Orange County Department of Education
200 Kalmus Dr,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
RE: OCBE Position of Support for AB-1314 & OC LGBTQ+ Students Protections
Dear OC Board Members Jorge Valdes, Esq., Mari Barke, Ken L. Williams, Jr., D.O., Tim Shaw., Lisa Sparks, Ph.D.;
Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, their achievements, and the long road to inclusion. However, by May 1st more than 540 bills were introduced in at least 37 states targeting LGTBQ+ students. Even here in California, with one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the nation, there has been legislation introduced that could harm LGBTQ+ youth in schools.
Studies have proven again and again that unsupportive school environments have alarming effects. 52% of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-17 considered suicide in the past year while 2 in 3 transgender or nonbinary youth experience major depression. Supportive schools significantly reduce these statistics, with a 37% decrease in suicide ideation and a 43% decrease in depression when teachers care about the safety of the vulnerable students. Schools should provide safe spaces for students to discover themselves and access crucial support systems, fostering their overall well-being.
When schools provide their students the vital support systems they need, it is clear that our youth thrive. However, the K-12 educational landscape in Orange County (OC) falls far from providing a safe and inclusive environment for their LGBTQ+ students.
Through a needs assessment conducted by Viet Rainbow of Orange County in 2021 and through multiple community listening sessions, we found that LGBTQ+ students in OC often face an unsupportive classroom atmosphere with incidents of bullying, harassment, and discrimination from their peers and educators. Few youth actually have access to supportive adults at their schools who actually listen to, support, and respect them for who they are – and even fewer share that their school has proactive measures in place to create a safe space for all students. Efforts must be intensified to foster a more accepting and supportive environment, where LGBTQ+ students can thrive without fear of discrimination or prejudice.
The Orange County Board of Education (OCBE), which oversees the budget for K-12 schools in OC and manages the local school districts, has demonstrated actions that are detrimental to the well-being and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ students. The OCBE voted to support Assembly Bill 1314, even though it did not advance in committee, which would have required school district employees to “out” trans and non-binary students to their parents without the students’ consent. During that meeting, the board members ignored the concerns of the LGBTQ+ communities and our allies, going as far as voting to support the bill in the middle of public comment.
The pandemic has shown us that we are interconnected, and the actions of our elected leaders affect us all. In order for California to be an inclusive leader in progressing human rights, we cannot ignore anti-LGBTQ+ actions and agendas anywhere within our state.
Thus, we demand that the Orange County Board of Education Board members do the following:
- Rescind their endorsement of AB 1314. OCBE should publicly acknowledge and apologize for the impact they have made by endorsing anti-trans and LGBTQ+ legislation and policies.
- Prioritize supporting policies that protect trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students: The OCBE should put on their agenda and prioritize supportive policies that cultivate safe schools for LGBTQ+ students, particularly gender diverse students.
- Meet with LGBTQ+ Community and Allies by the end of June 2023: The OCBE should engage with LGBTQ+ leaders and allies beyond public facing meetings and work towards better understanding the specific needs and challenges LGBTQ+ students face.
The OCBE must reevaluate its priorities and commit to fostering an environment where all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can flourish without fear of discrimination or prejudice. It is crucial for the OCBE to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and prioritize the well-being of all students in Orange County.
Signed,
Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL)
Additional signatures, as of Monday, June 5th 7:40pm PST
Stacia Kato
Dannie Cesena, Director of CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
Hairo Cortes, Executive Director of Chispa
James Huynh, VROC Research Committee Co-Chair
Lisa Fu, Executive Director of California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative
Cindy Le
Keva Bui
Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of South Asian Network
Jackie
Lindsay Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Shanti Orange County
Chelsea Boyle
Priscilla Huang, Executive Director of Center for Asian Americans in Action
Megan Bui
Lesley Velasco, Civic Engagement Manager of Ahri for Justice
Alice Nguyen
Jacob Le
Amanda Landrian
Theresa Le
Kathy Vu
Ashley Tatang
Kristi Pruett
Katherine Allah
Jackie Wu
Frankie Guevara
Kimberly Goering, Oak Grove Elementary PTA President and CUSD employee
Nam. Hyee Kim, Director of Korean American Center
Sunli Kim
Ali Monge, Executive Director of Women for American Values and Ethics
Lien
Adrianne Alpern
Dan T.
Amy Luna Capelle
Sean Thomas, Board Member, Treasurer Of Lavender Democrats Of Orange County
Mlou Aquino
Michelle Olea
Cayla Zhang
Sofia Men
Nikki Paschal
Maya Polon
Hina Ahmad, Deputy Director of South Asian Network
Eddie Hu
Romina AMFT of Shanti OC
Jeffrey Vu, Director of Clinical Services, Nurse Practitioner at UC Irvine Gender Diversity Program
Maria Garcia, Program Manager at Rainbow Labs
Toni Collard, mental health counselor at Radiant Health Centers
Lisa Macafee
Johann Ortizo, Director of Programs at APAIT, a division of Special Service for Groups
Jinkyung Park, Communications Director at Ahri for Justice
Chloe Sheerson
Madin, Executive Director at ProjectQ
Brian Poth, Executive Director of The Source LGBT+ Center
Stephanie Camacho-Van Dyke, Director of Advocacy and Education at LGBTQ Center OC
Sonya Lam, Executive Director of API Equality-LA
Catalina
Kristina Esopo
Adrian Bacong
Van Bui
Kevin Cruz, Ph.D candidate
Julie Vo, Policy Director at Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
Tien Cao
Renee Lahey-Jacobs
Joceline Seres
Bryant Jackson-Green
Jessica Man
Marcus Degnan
Jason Bautista, Community & Civic Engagement Associate at Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC)
Lucy Ngo, Program Manager at Ahri for Justice
Ryan Okazaki
Austin Nguyen
Joey Tran
Ariana Figueroa
Tiffany Tran
Mario A. Ortega, CEO at Abrazar, Inc.
Sean Tan
Andrew Shang
Carla Brizuela-Perez
Vy Nguyen
David Gonzalez
Kaitlin Yi
Maggie Hawkins, Co-chair, LGBTQ+ Leadership Council of Planned Parenthood Orange & San Bernardino Counties
Shreshta Aiyar
Cathy
Ryan kim
Marcos
Ellen Ahn, Executive Director of Korean Community Services
Joanne
Susie Kim
Nicholas Kim
Don Han, Director of Community Partnerships of OC Human Relations
Sophia Ortiz
Karen Llave
Van
Anh Chau
Calvin her
Jonathan Dang
Carlsein
Cathy Ngo
Brianna A. Gonzalez
Kyra Huete
Nadia
Philip Yaeger, CEO of Radiant Health Centers
Rachel Choi
Jacquelyn Do, Development Chair of The Vietnamese Creatives Collective
Joanna Banh
Tanya Ly
Alex Villafuerte, Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement
Terence dela Paz
Jon Rosario
Miranda Sanchez
Lalene
Travis Pham
Michael Huynh
Mark Refe
Lynna Le
Jennifer Tran
Kelly Groff
