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In Orange County, the rights and needs of LGBTQ+ students are being held hostage by intolerant extremists who are preventing the implementation of LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming school policies and curriculum mandated by California law. There is little effort by School Board Trustees to contradict the deluge of extremists and hateful misinformation. Many remain silent while others orchestrate, promote and engage in confusing and harmful tactics – holding forums and spreading medically inaccurate research from religiously biased organizations and hate groups, directly bullying parents and advocates, and threatening baseless lawsuits. These individuals and groups are allowing LGBTQ+ youth and families to be marginalized and terrorized in the name of religious beliefs. The result is that ALL Orange County students are being denied the support and education that is their fundamental right and there is an increase in bullying and violence against the LGBTQ+ community including suicide and deadly violence.

A recent report from researchers at Chapman University about LGBT youth in Orange County based on data from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) suggests that LGBTQ+ youth are experiencing staggering disparities in education and health outcomes including attendance, safety, bullying, alcohol and drug use, and mental health, as well as protective factors such as youth engagement and connection to school. According to the report, 5.4% of Orange County students identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and 1% identify as transgender (more than 15,000 students). Alarmingly, the report found that in one year, approximately 45.8% to 49.2% middle school and high school LGBT youth, compared to 13.5% to 15.2% of non-LGBT youth, seriously considered suicide. (https://www.chapman.edu/education/_files/research/oc-lgbt-narrative.pdf)

In response, Youth First Orange County (YFOC), a coalition of students, parents, educators and organizers, is working to address these disparities. YFOC advocates for safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free schools for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) students. Our tool, the YFOC LGBTQ+ Student Bill of Rights, can help protect student rights to a free and appropriate public education, in safe and supportive school climates, without harassment or discrimination, where they can reach their full potential. The YFOC LGBTQ+ Student Bill of Rights is informed by evidence-based best practices and resources for how to begin and how to dig in to support LGBTQ+ youth. Aligned with the California Education Code, the YFOC LGBTQ+ Student Bill of Rights provides a model for adhering to the laws that protect LGBTQ+ youth in California schools, creating safe and affirming schools, and addressing the epidemic of anti-LGBT bias, stigma and related health risks, including suicide.

We are asking leaders across the state who care about LGBTQ+ youth to put a stop to the damage being caused by extremists individuals and groups and to support the YFOC LGBTQ+ Student Bill of Rights, so that we can improve educational and life outcomes for ALL students.