OUT for Safe Schools

LGBTQ+ Resources for the Pomona Unified School District Community

Pomona Unified School District

is proud to be part of the OUT for Safe Schools campaign, which has been launched to ensure that LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) students and their families feel welcomed and affirmed on all school campuses. According to the 2021-22 California Healthy Kids Survey, at least 12 percent of PUSD students in middle and high school grades identify as LGBTQ.

Unfortunately, many LGBTQ youths find their school environments to be hostile and dangerous. Nationally, LGBTQ students continue to be at greater risk of dropping out of school and experiencing depression, violence, harassment, substance use and addiction, homelessness, HIV infection, and the ultimate tragedy - suicide - at much higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. (Ryan C., 2010) This climate can affect not only LGBTQ students' educational success, but also their psychological well-being. (Kosciw et al., 2014, p.48).

PUSD is thrilled to participate in this campaign by providing tools to staff members that enable them to be visible resources for students and families. By wearing an OUT for Safe Schools badge, school site personnel have the opportunity to declare that they are safe space ambassadors and show that they are allies to all LGBTQ students.

While the focus of the campaign is on LGBTQ youth, efforts to create a welcoming and affirming environment for them will have a positive effect on the environment for all youth.

Thank you for supporting our effort to make PUSD a safe place for all students to thrive and reach their highest potential.

Section 1 - SOGIE

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression

The Genderbread Person

The Genderbread person is a type of infographic about gender, using it as an umbrella term to encompass gender expression, orientation and identity.

Learning About SOGIE

This video, created by the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity (CoE LGBTQ+ BHE) - University of Maryland, reviews basic terminology that is important to know when working with people who have diverse sexual orientations or gender identities. This terminology includes sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.

TEDx: "Toilets, Bowties, Gender and Me" - Audrey Mason-Hyde

Why is it so important for us to know someone else's gender? We live in a gendered world, but for Audrey, gender is fluid at best an uncomfortable construct. Is there a way to be less reliant on gender in our interactions with people? And what does this mean when it comes to the clothes we wear, or even which toilet we choose to use? With a fierce intellect and a unique sense of style, Audrey has plenty to say about our gendered world.

Section 2 - Language & Pronouns

Section 3 - LGBTQ Student Rights

Section 4 - Resources

  1. PUSD School Mental Health Services Referral Form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rfg_A0h9HPFr08KA6v4ZuvUQuSursi9f/view?usp=sharing

  2. Welcoming Schools: https://welcomingschools.org

  3. Gender Spectrum https://genderspectrum.org/

  4. GLSEN for Educators https://www.glsen.org/resources/educator-resources

  5. Los Angeles LGBTQ school programs https://schools.lalgbtcenter.org/

  6. GSA Network https://gsanetwork.org/

  7. Lambda Legal https://www.lambdalegal.org/

  8. Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/our-new-name-learning-for-justice

  9. Stonewall National Education Project https://stonewall-museum.org/education-program/

  10. Santa Clara County Office of Education Resource Guide https://online.fliphtml5.com/hlqpt/eofr/#p=1

  11. CA Dept. of Education https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ee/supportlgbtq.asp


GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is a leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students.

This site is always being updated and will have more information soon. Thank you for your patience and support.