Inclusive Policy Advocacy
State-Level Advocacy
Policies affecting LGBTQ+ students in Arizona schools
GLSEN’s policy work strives to develop safe and inclusive national, state, and local policies that create positive school climates for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. GLSEN is also committed to dismantling all identity-based oppressions, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, ability, and immigration status. The policy pages of the GLSEN National website contain helpful information about federal policy, state policy, local policy, and policy resources like model anti-bullying and harassment policies.
Locally, GLSEN Arizona also works closely with the ACLU of Arizona, Equality Arizona, Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization (AZTYPO), HRC Arizona, and other organizations to fight discriminatory bills that, if passed, would harm LGBTQ students in Arizona schools.
It is our belief that to work with School Resource Officers (SROs) would run counter to our mission, compromise our efficacy, and make schools feel hostile, especially for BIPOC students. For these reasons, we at GLSEN Arizona support policies that defund SROs.
Attend Your Local School Board Meeting
Our local school boards can have the most direct impact on student safety. For instance, school boards make important curriculum decisions and decide whether a school stays online during a pandemic versus hybrid or in-person. As an educator, student, family member, or local community member, your voice can make a difference in creating safer schools for LGBTQ+ youth.
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How can you make your voice heard? First things first, visit your school district's website. You can find your school district using K12 Academics directory here. Next, do your research; find out what the issues are, what's being voted on, and any relevant facts or findings. Once you have all the information you need, attend your district's next school board meeting. The next meeting date should be listed on the district website's event calendar with information on how to attend in-person and/or virtually. Most school boards even provide an online livestream for public viewing.
If you're feeling empowered to speak to the safety of LGBTQ+ students, you can submit your public comment. There is power in numbers, so rallying folks to support or oppose the same issue can make a difference. GLSEN Arizona can help. For more information or support from GLSEN Arizona, email policy@glsenarizona.org.
“I'm really excited to see our conversations about safe schools grow and to have, on policy committee, the opportunity to expand our notions of safe schools.”