SCEA Statement on Pueblo District 60 Policy ACA

Tonight’s 3-2 vote by the Pueblo District 60 Board of Education requiring parental notification of a student’s request to use a chosen name is direct assault on LGBTQ+ youth. This vote shows that Board Members Pannunzio, DeNiro, and Cisneros clearly have no regard for the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students. SCEA thanks Board Members Maes and Thiebaut for their thoughtful and compassionate desire to protect each and every student.

In light of the vote and the harmful rhetoric around it, we want to be sure to share crisis and support resources. If you or someone you know needs help, please check out SCEA's Crisis and Support Resource page: https://www.socoequality.org/help.

As SCEA and our partners work on next steps, we ask that you share your feelings with the Board of Education and Superintendent. Please also share your gratitude to Board Members Maes and Thiebaut for their effort to protect D60 Students.

Send Emails

The following links should take you directly to your email with the template. You can also copy and paste email templates below.

Email your thanks to Board Member Dennis Maes (Please edit before sending)

Email your thanks to Board Member Bill Thiebaut (Please edit before sending)

Email the Board of Eduction and Superintendent to express your concern regarding Policy ACA as adopted. (Please edit before sending)

Email to Board Member Dennis Maes

To: dennis.maesboe@pueblod60.org

Subject: Thank You

Body (PLEASE EDIT BEFORE SENDING):

Judge Maes,

Thank you for your effort to protect each and every student in Pueblo District 60. We know extremist agendas targeting LGBTQ+ youth have no place in Pueblo and we sincerely thank you for taking a stand against these dangerous ideas.

[Please add any personal story or customize as you'd like]

Please know that our community will continue the work to protect our LGTBQ+ youth. We appreciate your continued effort as we work together.

Thank you again,

[NAME]

Email to Board Member Dennis Maes

To: william.thiebautboe@pueblod60.org

Subject: Thank You

Body (PLEASE EDIT BEFORE SENDING):

Mr. Thiebaut,

Thank you for your effort to protect each and every student in Pueblo District 60. We know extremist agendas targeting LGBTQ+ youth have no place in Pueblo and we sincerely thank you for taking a stand against these dangerous ideas.

[Please add any personal story or customize as you'd like]

Please know that our community will continue the work to protect our LGTBQ+ youth. We appreciate your continued effort as we work together.

Thank you again,

[NAME]

Email to the full Board of Education and Superintendent Kimzey

To: susan.pannunzioboe@pueblod60.org, drkathy.deniroboe@pueblod60.org, brian.cisnerosboe@pueblod60.org, dennis.maesboe@pueblod60.org, william.thiebautboe@pueblod60.org, barbara.kimzey@pueblod60.org

Subject: Policy ACA

Body (PLEASE EDIT BEFORE SENDING):

Board of Education and Superintendent Kimzey,

I am a [Parent/Guardian/Student/Concerned Community Member] writing to express my extreme disappointment that Policy ACA was passed including a mandatory parental notification in all cases. As approved, this policy is a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of transgender and nonbinary youth. Dismissing the lived experience of many LGBTQ+ people and parents of LGBTQ+ youth truly felt like a slap in the face.

[Please insert any personal story you are comfortable sharing or other thoughts]

Please know that our community will continue the work to protect our LGTBQ+ youth. We would prefer to do this work in partnership with the Board of Education, but it is now evident that the Board has little to no concern for LGBTQ+ Youth.

Sincerely disappointed,

[Name]

Call to Action for School District 60!

We need you to help stand up for trans and nonbinary students in Pueblo School District 60! Please join us for a rally at 5:30pm on Tuesday, October 22 at the D60 Administration Building (315 W. 11th St, Pueblo). Following the short rally, we will attend the Board Meeting at 6:00pm where they will debate and potentially vote on a policy regarding use of a student’s preferred name in school. We expect opposition to attend, so we need people there to speak up and represent our LGTBQ+ young people.

In the meantime:

• Please email Board Member Dr. Kathy DeNiro (drkathy.deniroboe@pueblod60.org) and ask her to support LGBTQ+ young people. Suggested language can be found below.

• Please email Board Members Judge Dennis Maes (dennis.maesboe@pueblod60.org) and Bill Thiebaut (william.thiebautboe@pueblod60.org) and thank them for working to protect LGBTQ+ young people.

• Please sign up for Public Comment at the October 22nd Meeting. Please see below for instructions on how to provide public comment.

TELL THE D60 BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT TO PROTECT TRANS STUDENTS

The Pueblo District 60 Board of Education is considering policy regarding non-legal name changes (using student’s preferred names in school). During first reading of the policy, Board President Pannunzio asked about automatic notification of parents and administrator approval when a student requests to use a different name than appears on the school’s roster - which we know would put trans students at risk. The meeting is available to watch here: https://vimeo.com/991590601#t=5835s. The discussion on this particular policy starts at 1:37:15 and that link should begin playing at that point. 

Please email the board or sign up to provide public comment at their next meeting!

UPDATE 10/4/2024: The District 60 Board of Education will discuss Policy ACA Student (Non-Legal) Name Changes during their October 8th meeting. There will not be an opportunity for public comment, but it also seems they will not be voting until a later meeting. Please email the board and encourage them to ensure the policy protects trans students. Please plan to attend the meeting if possible on October 8th at 5:30pm at the D60 Administrative Services Center (315 W. 11th St., Pueblo, CO). You can also watch online here: https://vimeo.com/event/4599435. The agenda and policy drafts can be accessed here: https://pueblo.ic-board.com.

UPDATE 8/27/2024: At tonight’s board meeting there were 5 people who provided public comment - three of them were encouraging the board and superintendent to support transgender students! B.O.E. Member Thiebaut indicated he had received dozens of emails. The board did not take action on Policy ACA during the meeting, so it is expected second reading and final adoption will take place at a meeting in September. We will keep everyone updated in regard to which meeting this will occur - so there’s still time to contact the board and encourage them to support transgender and gender expansive students in Pueblo!

EMAIL THE D60 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Send an email to: susan.pannunzioboe@pueblod60.org, drkathy.deniroboe@pueblod60.org, brian.cisnerosboe@pueblod60.org, dennis.maesboe@pueblod60.org, william.thiebautboe@pueblod60.org, barbara.kimzey@pueblod60.org

Subject: Protect Trans Students

Body (PLEASE EDIT BEFORE SENDING): District 60 Board of Education Members and Superintendent Kimzey,

My name is [Insert Name] and I am a concerned [Parent, Student, Teacher, Community Member, etc.]. I am urging you to keep the safety of transgender students in mind as you consider final adoption of Policy ACA.

Automatic, required notification of parents when a student requests to use a preferred name at school puts transgender students mental and physical safety and their lives at risk.

[Insert personal story or statistics for the board to consider in relation to this policy].

Thank you for keeping the safety and lives of transgender students in mind while you consider Policy ACA.

Sincerely,

[Name and Contact Info]

PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT A MEETING

The next D60 Board of Education Meeting with public comments is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 6:00pm and takes place at the D60 Administration Building (315 W. 11th Street, Pueblo). See below for directions on how to provide public comment or join the audience at the meeting to show support for our LGTBQ+ Students in Pueblo!

Instructions from D60: A person or representative of a group or organization intending to speak in-person during the public comment portion of the meeting shall be required to sign up prior to the beginning of the meeting. The sign-up sheet for public comment shall be available in the Office of the Board Secretary during the regular business hours of 7:30 am – 5:00 pm starting the day before the meeting; thereafter, it will be available in the Arapahoe Room of the Administrative Services Center from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Alternatively, a voicemail box has been set up to allow citizens to record public comments at its regular meeting. Citizens wishing to record their message are instructed to call (719) 549-7178 starting at 7:30 am the day before the meeting up until 12:00 pm the day of the meeting to record your comments. Each message is limited to a recording length of three (3) minutes. Only one recording per caller will be accepted and only the first five (5) voicemail messages received will be played publicly during the time reserved for public comments during the meeting. If there are five or fewer speakers who have signed up for in-person comment at the meeting, additional voicemail comments will be played up to an overall total of ten public comments. All messages will be time-stamped to ensure that they were received within the allowed time frame.

STATISTICS AND DATA TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST

Local data from the Health Kids Colorado Survey, specifically from their High School Region 7 which is the whole of Pueblo County. Out of 2,922 high school respondents, 99 or 3.5% identified as transgender.

1. Among students that were bullied in the last 12 months, the percentage who were bullied because of gender identity: 79.3% of transgender students compared to 8.3% of their cisgender peers.

2. Percentage of students who did not go to school on one or more of the past 30 days because they felt they would be unsafe at school or on their way to or from school: 18.4% of transgender students compared to 14.2% of their cisgender peers.

3. Percentage of students who purposely hurt themselves without wanting to die in the past 12 months: 60.7% of transgender students compared to 14% of their cisgender peers.

4. Percentage of students who felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row during the past 12 months that they stopped doing some usual activities: 67.9% of transgender students compared to 29.3% of their cisgender peers.

5. Percentage of students who seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months: 54.4% of transgender students compared to 12.2% of their cisgender peers.

6. Percentage of students who made a plan about how they would attempt suicide during the past 12 months: 43.3% of transgender students compared to 10.6% of their cisgender peers.

7. Percentage of students who attempted suicide one or more times during the past 12 months: 24.9% of transgender students compared to 6.4% of their cisgender peers.

8. Percentage of students who would tell their parents or guardians if they were concerned about their own or someone else’s well-being or mental health: 19.9% of transgender students compared to 49.1% of their cisgender peers.

9. Percentage of students who would tell another trusted adult (who is not their parents or guardians) if they were concerned about their own or someone else’s well-being or mental health: 36.2% of transgender students compared to 46.3% of their cisgender peers. 

10. Percentage of students who most of the time or always felt confident with their body image during the past 30 days: 17.7% of transgender students compared to 43.2% of their cisgender peers.

11. Percentage of students who most of the time or always worried about their physical appearance more than they wanted to during the past 30 days: 71.0% of transgender students compared to 43.7% of their peers.

12. Percentage of students who usually or definitely could ask their parents or guardians for help with a personal problem: 48.9% of transgender students compared to 81% of their cisgender peers.

13. Percentage of students who agree or strongly agree that they belong at their school: 40.5% of transgender students compared to 65.4% of their cisgender peers.

14. Percentage of students who talked to a teacher about their future plans after high school in the past 12 months: 54.5% of transgender students compared to 42.9% of their cisgender peers.

15. Percentage of students who talked to another school staff member (who is not a school counselor, teacher, administrator, or couch) about their future plans after high school in the past 12 months: 21.0% of transgender students compared to 13.7% of their cisgender peers.

16. Percentage of students who usually or definitely feel safe at school: 74.5% of transgender students compared to 90.1 of their cisgender peers.

According to a national survey from the Trevor Project, more than half (54%) of transgender and nonbinary young people found their school to be gender-affirming, and those who did reported lower rates of attempting suicide. The same survey indicated that nearly half (46%) of transgender and nonbinary young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. In regards to access to affirming spaces and communities, only 40% of LGTBQ+ young people identified their home as an affirming space and that percentage decreases when taking only transgender and nonbinary young people into account. Students that do not have affirming spaces at home or school have a increased chance of attempting suicide by 4% in either category.

Call to Action for School District 70!

TELL THE D70 BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT TO Support LGBTQ+ Students

During the September 24th meeting of the District 70 Board of Education, there was a discussion about the District’s Social Emotional Learning Curriculum. During the discussion, concerns were raised about the inclusion of LGBTQ+ supportive aspects of the curriculum. One Board Member said in reference to kids in K-2 “they can barely wipe their ass, they don’t know their pronouns“. Another said, “I’m not talking the LGBTQ, I’m not talking the critical race theory. We agree, that stuff, we don’t agree with that stuff. At least I don’t agree with that stuff. That’s the other 10% that isn’t okay in a lot of this curriculum stuff“. The video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3V2ICLyu3I. The board discussion starts around the 1 hour mark - public comment came before that.

Please write to the D70 Board of Education and encourage them to make sure their Social Emotional Learning Curriculum retains components that support LGBTQ+ students.

EMAIL THE D70 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Send an email to: aochs@district70.org, awilson@district70.org, jchristenson@district70.org, cculhane-howland@dsitrict70.org, cdeluca@district70.org, rrein@district70.org

Subject: Support LGBTQ+ Students

Body (PLEASE EDIT BEFORE SENDING): District 70 Board of Education Members and Superintendent Rein,

My name is [Insert Name] and I am a concerned [Parent, Student, Teacher, Community Member, etc.]. I am urging you to keep the aspects of the District’s Social Emotional Learning Curriculum that support our LGBTQ+ Students.

There are LGBTQ+ Students in District 70 and their mental health and wellness matters. Each student deserves a supportive, affirming school. Sharing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from the board dais can directly impact the mental health of our LGBTQ+ students - especially when the discussion is about eliminating social emotional curriculum content that can specifically address their mental health challenges. LGBTQ+ students are disproportionally affected by mental health challenges and pretending they don’t exist or disagreeing with their identity will only further the gap.

[Insert personal story or statistics for the board to consider in relation to this policy].

Thank you for keeping the safety, mental health, and lives of LGBTQ+ students in mind while you consider the District’s Social Emotional Learning Curriculum.

Sincerely,

[Name and Contact Info]

PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT A MEETING

The next D70 Board of Education Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8th at 6:00pm and takes place at the D70 Administration Building (24951 US Highway 50 East, Pueblo, CO 81006). They only allow 3 speakers per topic, so please send us an email at info@socoequality.org if you’re willing to speak. We would like to fill the room with support, so please plan to attend if you can!

STATISTICS AND DATA TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST

Local data from the Health Kids Colorado Survey, specifically from their High School Region 7 which is the whole of Pueblo County. Out of 2,922 high school respondents, 635 identified as Bisexual, Gay/Lesbian, Pansexual, Asexual, or another sexual orientation identity and 99 identified as transgender.

1. Among students that were bullied in the last 12 months, the percentage who were bullied because of sexual orientation: 38% of bisexual students, 64.4% of Gay/Lesbian students, and 55.9% of pansexual students compared to 7.9% of their straight peers.

2. Among students that were bullied in the last 12 months, the percentage who were bullied because of gender identity: 79.3% of transgender students compared to 8.3% of their cisgender peers.

3. Percentage of students who purposely hurt themselves without wanting to die in the past 12 months: 35.8% of bisexual students, 30.1% of gay/lesbian students, 40.3% of pansexual students, 45.4% of asexual students, and 60.7% of transgender students compared to 9% of their straight peers and 14% of their cisgender peers.

4. Percentage of students who felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row during the past 12 months that they stopped doing some usual activities: 48% of bisexual students, 34.7% of gay/lesbian students, 56.5% of pansexual students, 70% of asexual students, and 67.9% of transgender students compared to 25.6% of their straight peers and 29.3% of their cisgender peers.

5. Percentage of students who seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months: 31.7% of bisexual students, 17.2% of gay/lesbian students, 41.5% of pansexual students, 33.3% of asexual students, and 54.4% of transgender students compared to 8.8% of their straight peers and 12.2% of their cisgender peers.

6. Percentage of students who made a plan about how they would attempt suicide during the past 12 months: 22.8% of bisexual students, 12.6% of gay/lesbian students, 41% of pansexual students, 27.1% of asexual students, and 43.3% of transgender students compared to 7.9% of their straight peers and 10.6% of their cisgender peers.

7. Percentage of students who attempted suicide one or more times during the past 12 months: 18.1% of bisexual students, 3.3% of gay/lesbian students, 16.2% of pansexual students, 9.5% of asexual students, and 24.9% of transgender students compared to 4.8% of their straight peers and 6.4% of their cisgender peers.

8. Percentage of students who agree or strongly agree that they belong at their school: 55.3% of bisexual students, 60.4% of gay/lesbian students, 51.6% of pansexual students, 25.7% of asexual students, and 40.5% of transgender students compared to 68.6% of their straight peers and 65.4% of their cisgender peers.

9. Percentage of students who usually or definitely feel safe at school: 87.3% of bisexual students, 75.2% of gay/lesbian students, 80.9% of pansexual students, 85.9% of asexual students, and 74.5% of transgender students compared to 91.3% of their straight peers and 90.1% of their cisgender peers.

   According to a national survey from the Trevor Project, more than half (54%) of transgender and nonbinary young people found their school to be gender-affirming, and those who did reported lower rates of attempting suicide. The same survey indicated that nearly half (46%) of transgender and nonbinary and 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. The survey indicates that LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than half the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities.

SCEA Statement on Gaza

The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance stands against violence, war, genocide, apartheid, and the oppression of marginalized communities. Therefore, we are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There is no justification for the violence that is happening indiscriminately against the Palestinian people. We are deeply saddened by the loss of over 20,000 innocent lives including over 10,000 children. Thousands more are injured and even more are still lost under the rubble. Israel has cut off their access to water, electricity, and fuel, and has forced the displacement of over 1.1 million people. They are seeking shelter in Hospitals, Churches, and Schools which are also being targeted. Medical Staff, Journalists, and Humanitarian aid workers and their families are being targeted and killed. There is a clear intent to force the Palestinians out of their home in Gaza. 

As an LGBTQIA+ organization, we call on other LGBTQIA+ organizations to stand with us in solidarity with the Palestinians in their demand for basic human rights. We stand firmly against Pinkwashing. Pinkwashing or Rainbow Washing is propaganda used by the settler colony of Israel to distract humanity from its occupation, Indiscriminate killing, and forced displacement of the Palestinian people. We encourage our community to do the research and learn the history to know that this violence did not start on Oct 7th. This has been happening for the past 75 years. It is time for us to speak up and call for the Palestinians to attain their full rights and freedom. There cannot be LGBTQIA+ rights without basic human rights. We understand that queer liberation goes hand in hand with the liberation of all peoples. We oppose discrimination and oppression of all peoples and recognize the intersectional nature of this oppression. We condemn Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in all forms. We mourn with our Muslim and Jewish community members and recognize our Muslim and Jewish LGBTQIA+ siblings. We also recognize our queer siblings in Palestine who are currently calling for us to join with them and stand in solidarity. 

We hope that our community will join us in solidarity condemning this violence against humanity and standing with the Palestinians in calling for their basic human rights and freedom. Please join us in calling for an immediate ceasefire by emailing or calling your elected officials. We also urge you to become involved in local groups that are organizing for change in your immediate community. We call for not only an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but also the opening of the border so that life-saving humanitarian aid can freely enter. We call for an end to the siege of Gaza and freedom for the Palestinian people. 

In Solidarity, 

Southern Colorado Equality Alliance Board 

References

alQaws. (2021, May 26). Queer Liberation & Palestine. http://www.alqaws.org/articles/Queer-Liberation-Palestine?category_id=15

Death toll in Gaza tops 23,000 as U.N. warns Gaza has become “uninhabitable.” Democracy Now! (2024, January 8). https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/8/headlines/death_toll_in_gaza_tops_23_000_as_un_warns_gaza_has_become_uninhabitable 

Palqueers. (n.d.). A Liberatory Demand from Queers in Palestine. https://queersinpalestine.noblogs.org/post/2023/11/08/87/ 

Queer Crescent. (n.d.). Pinkwashing Resources. https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1DpE3nNofb5Ptj92A1zvjqJS3HlXzuApFee207cmQuys/mobilebasic 

Say no to pinkwashing. BDS Movement. (2022, February 25). https://bdsmovement.net/pinkwashing 

Tamarkin, S. (2023, November 22). Why Queer Solidarity with Palestine is not “chickens for KFC.” Them. https://www.them.us/story/lgbtq-solidarity-palestine-saed-atshan

For more information and resources to help stand in solidarity with our Queer siblings in Palestine utilize this resource document. https://docs.google.com/document/d/12fMTV6L5Za8RkaukUdRMF6kB1V2ZPeAgUC7fXWmGWi8/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link