Anastasia Arnestad’s Post

California just became the first state in the nation to pass a law that explicitly prohibits school personnel from outing trans students to their parents. On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Support Academic Future and Educators for Today's Youth Act (SAFETY Act) into law. The California Department of Education will also develop resources for parents, guardians, and families of LGBTQ+ students in partnership with actual LGBTQ+ families. This is an important step in reinforcing the rights of all students to safely be their authentic selves at school. Without psychological safety, students can't learn and grow, which contributes to social and mental health challenges. I've had the privilege of helping schools, colleges, and universities embrace gender-inclusive and affirming policies, protections, and educator practices. For information on how to create gender-inclusive spaces, click the link in my profile. Alt text: A person is smiling while holding a sign that says, “Trans Folks Have Always Been Here.” This is above a headline reading, “California is now the first state to ban policies requiring teachers to out trans students.” The story is by James Factora. #TransgenderProtections #SchoolSafety #HumanRights

As a cis-het white man, I've never experienced any threat to my civil rights. I've never been treated as inferior or less-than. I've never feared for my safety or been met with any type of aggresion simply because of something about me that I didn't choose and can't change. I don't know what it's like. But I hope to use my voice to stand with those who do. 25% of high schoolers today identify as LBGTQ. High schoolers in the LGBTQ community are 4 times more likely to experience depression and suicidal ideation than their peers. One of the most effective interventions to support this community is to allow educators to use inclusive language around sexual orientation and gender identity such as a Pronoun Button or Safe Space poster. Yet legislators continue to make attempts at chilling free speech throughout our schools, creating environments that would pretend as if our LGBTQ community does not exist. The civil rights movement isn't history. It's today. It's students in our schools who might decide to actually give life a chance if only they could find a single ally in their educators. So why wouldn't we give students that chance?

This thought-provoking article sheds light on the challenges LGBTQ+ students face in educational settings. It's beyond time to stand together and create a safe, supportive environment for every student. Let's champion inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and pave the way for a brighter, more accepting future. How do you ensure protection for your LBGTQ+ students, especially when there's a national attack on DEI measures? #InclusiveEducation #StudentsFirst https://lnkd.in/eKs3xRRg

As we close out Pride Month, there’s new research we just released with Theirworld among LGBTQ+ youth. The findings are discouraging: • 52% of LGBTQ+ youth face bullying • 38% don’t feel schools are safe • 35% have missed school due to bullying Learning in a safe educational environment is a fundamental right that all children deserve. We need officials at all levels of government who will strongly advocate for more inclusive education policies that help children feel safer in school. https://t.co/3sCf382be7

Approximately 3.2 million youth identify as LGBTQ+ and many are susceptible to badgering, persecution, or harm. According to the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2022) Section A.1.h. reads as professional school counselors “respect students’ and families’ values, beliefs, and cultural background, as well as student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and exercise great care to avoid imposing personal biases, beliefs, or values rooted in one’s religion, culture, or ethnicity.” Similarly, ACA Code of Ethics (2014) Section A.4.b states counselors must “respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants, furthermore, all sections require that counselors pay attention to the diversity of their clients.” ACA adds that diversity includes culture, religion, race, ability, age, gender, sexual orientation, education, and socioeconomic level. In the last few years, states have introduced an unprecedented number of bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, which has created ethical dilemmas in which laws and the best interests, desires, and values of clients conflict. This workshop will give practitioners the practical skills and knowledge to work ethically with LGBTQ+ clients and students in schools. By discovering how other counselors understand LGBTQ+ identities, have used inclusive language, and have advocated for policy changes that promote equality and inclusion, counselors can help create a safe and supportive environment for all clients. #SACES #Counseling #CounselorEducators #LGBTQ #Diversity #Inclusivity #Ethics

🔍 New Research Alert: Exploring School Safety and Wellbeing for the LGBTQ+ Community 📚🌈 Excited to share my latest research on school safety, interpersonal challenges, and self-harm among LGBTQ+ students, staff, and parents. This study sheds light on unique experiences and concerns, offering crucial implications for creating inclusive and supportive school environments. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) individuals often face challenges in school settings. My study, encompassing 1926 students, 198 staff, and 180 parents, delves into perceptions of safety, interpersonal challenges, and self-harm across different roles, school types, locations, and gender identities. Results reveal that LGBTQ+ students, staff, and parents encounter similar concerns, with students showing a higher prevalence across all indicators. Students in government/public, religious affiliated, and nonmetropolitan schools, as well as transgender and gender diverse students, reported particularly high levels of distress. This research emphasizes the need for school-wide interventions to foster positive climates, focusing on safety, anti-bullying, and self-harm tailored to LGBTQ+ community members' needs. Creating safe and inclusive school environments is pivotal for LGBTQ+ wellbeing. This research aims to be a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and advocates striving towards this essential goal. 🔗 [https://lnkd.in/ezYBK6SN ] #LGBTQ #Research #Education #SchoolSafety #Inclusion #MentalHealth #AntiBullying

In this in-depth exposé, we explore the administration of Dr. Misti Tope, principal of Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast High School in Oklahoma City. Various allegations have surfaced, including claims of racism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, and misogyny, suggesting a challenging environment for students and staff. The investigation highlights concerns about Dr. Tope's practices, such as the dismissal of teachers of color and LGBTQ+ staff, intimidation of female students reporting inappropriate behavior, and controversial remarks. Additional issues involve reported inconsistencies in disciplinary actions and questionable physical interactions with students. This detailed examination also points to broader systemic issues within the school district, including administrative challenges and inconsistent responses from local authorities. National and state statistics provide context, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and supportive educational environment. Explore the complexities facing Classen and the community's efforts to seek positive change. This exposé offers valuable insights for those interested in the well-being of our educational institutions and youth. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/gHfb-y53 #ClassenComets #CSAS #CSASHS #OKCPS #DrMistiTope

How do students, teachers and school leaders want to discuss race and LGBTQ issues at school? The results from a new RAND survey are complicated, in Chalkbeat https://lnkd.in/g-GihwhC

"Adults and teens felt more comfortable with teachers teaching about racism than LGBTQ issues. They were also more comfortable with teachers talking about past injustices than present-day inequality, and more comfortable with gay rights than trans rights. And they were more comfortable with any of these topics coming up at the high school level — though many teens reported their own discomfort....Half of teachers, meanwhile, said they thought students shouldn’t learn about gender identity at school, with an even higher share of elementary school teachers agreeing with that view. The findings come as anti-trans legislation creates a more hostile environment for gender non-conforming youth in many states." We have to do better to protect trans lives. We have to do better to offer our youth the tools that they need to feel empowered, to feel like they belong, to thrive.

The governor of California has just signed the bill mentioned below, which bans schools from making rules that parents must be informed if their child claims to be transgender. The #family is the bedrock of the State, not vice versa. #Parents are and must remain the primary child-raisers - not government or education officials - for the health and protection of children. State regulation should be limited to preventing negligent, violent or abusive parenting. This move in CA involves serious social engineering and we must be watchful that it does not find its way into other major democracies, if it hasn't already. #childprotection #parenting #transgender #ethics #socialengineering #criticaltheory #familyethics https://lnkd.in/eju5rvJ6