Sac City Unified must make LGBTQ+ safe spaces an essential part of the school environment | Opinion

Across the country, political leaders and state legislatures are demonizing members of the LGBTQ+ community by repressing our voices and making us targets of hatred and violence.

Here in Sacramento, we’re moving in a different direction.

We are stepping forward and demanding our own safe spaces on school campuses. On March 16, we raised our voices in front of the Sacramento City Unified School District and presented a proposal that would make LGBTQ+ safe spaces and student clubs a mandatory part of every high school and middle school campus.

Currently, some campuses have these spaces, such as a Gender and Sexuality Alliance club, while others do not. The existence of these spaces depends primarily on the goodwill and volunteer time of a school staff member who serves as an advisor to the student group. Rather than have this space as a “nice-to-have,” we believe it should be a “must-have,” an essential part of the school environment.

Research from The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health shows that 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year; this includes more than half of transgender and non-binary youth, and 1 in 3 cisgender youth. However, LGBTQ+ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of suicide attempts.

Students in our community experience bullying through homophobic slurs and harassment at school and in our neighborhoods because of their gender expression or sexual orientation. These experiences at school actively contribute to stress and anxiety, and the hostile climate makes some youth not want to participate or go to school. Some of these negative experiences cause LGBTQ+ youth to avoid certain spaces and activities due to fear over their safety.

We have both been active in the GSA at Hiram Johnson High School. We know that having this space to meet during lunch or after school can make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ students. What does a safe space look like? It looks like a dedicated classroom on campus, a trusted adult who helps guide the group and LGBTQ+ signs and symbols that promote inclusion and visibility (such as the rainbow flag and the trans flag). It looks like a curriculum that helps students engage in conversations around gender expression, sexual orientation and queer and trans history. In this space, students can learn how to access resources, hear from guest speakers from local LGBTQ+ organizations and network with students from other campuses. This space supports positive mental health by reducing stigma and giving students affirmation and support.

We greatly benefit from being with trusted adults and other students who share our life experiences. In this kind of space, we do not feel so alone or isolated. We can be ourselves and be part of a community.

Sacramento City Unified is doing a great job at helping LGBTQ+ students feel supported. The district has staff dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ students and has GSA meetings on many campuses. We are simply asking the district to take the next step by passing a policy and setting aside resources to make these spaces a sustainable part of every middle school and high school campus.

We challenge every school district in Sacramento County to take this pledge. In mandating such spaces, our local school districts will serve as an example to the rest of the country on how to create school environments in which more students feel safe and more students feel like they belong.