LGBTQIA+ Resources
Supporting a Thriving, Inclusive Community
Our district is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment where all members of our school community, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, can thrive. Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Together, we are committed to removing barriers, addressing inequities, and fostering a culture of belonging. By celebrating diversity, we build a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone.
Our Commitments
- Policy-Driven Equity: Our School Board has established Policy OE-16 to guide our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Non-Discrimination Enforcement: All staff members are responsible for upholding our non-discrimination policies.
How ISD Supports Students and Families
Staff Training
- Gender Inclusive Schools Training: All staff have completed this foundational training to ensure inclusivity.
- Professional Development: Certificated staff receive training focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ students and their families.
Inclusive Curriculum and Resources
- Equity Framework: We use the Equity Framework when selecting and adopting new curriculum materials.
- Diverse Libraries: Our school libraries feature reading materials that reflect the diversity of our community.
Student-Led Initiatives
- Many schools host student-led affinity clubs that provide safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies.
Dedicated Support
- Counselors as First Points of Contact:
- Trained to support students in academics, social and emotional health, and college and career readiness.
- Ready to address barriers impacting education and connect families with resources.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do we address name and pronoun changes? | Everyone should use the name and pronoun a student requests. ISD Regulation 3211, RCW Ch. 28A.642 Discrimination Prohibition |
| Which restroom and locker room should a trans or gender expansive student use? | A student uses the facility that most closely aligns with their gender identity. ISD Regulation 3211, RCW Ch. 28A.642 Discrimination Prohibition, WAC 162-32-060 |
| What if my child says they do not feel there is privacy in the locker room? | Respect and support for all students' privacy needs is met by providing options for those seeking greater privacy. We foster an inclusive environment by ensuring trans and nonbinary and gender expansive athletes are not burdened with educating others about gender equity. WAC 162-32-060 |
| What about sports teams? | Washington State law requires schools to allow trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive students to participate in the sports that match their gender identity. Title IX, Washington State Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) |
Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lesbian | A woman primarily attracted to women |
| Gay | A man primarily attracted to men (also used as a catch-all within the community) |
| Bisexual/Pansexual | A person attracted to genders the same and different from their own |
| Trans | A person whose gender identity doesn’t correspond with their sex assigned at birth |
| Queer/Questioning | An umbrella term reclaimed by the community |
| Intersex | A person whose anatomy and/or chromosomes do not fit traditional markers for male/female |
| Asexual/Agender/Aromantic | A person who doesn’t typically experience sexual attraction/gender identity/romantic attraction |
| + (Plus) | All the beautiful members – Inclusive of all |
| Sexual Orientation | An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. An individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity. |
| Gender Identity | One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different from the one typically associated with their sex assigned at birth. |
| Gender Expression | External appearance of one’s gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine. |
| Transgender | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific orientation. |
| Gender Binary | An assumption that gender is limited solely to two categories, male or female, rather than a classification of genders that exist along a spectrum. |