FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno Unified wants to support LGBTQ students by improving the district’s programs and interactions.
Fresno Gay Straight Alliance Network, My LGPT Plus, Trans-E-Motion and Community Link among the groups giving their input Wednesday, at the Fresno Unified Education Center.
“Some the key issues we talked about was just comprehensive and knowledgeable sexual education, competency training for a lot of the teachers and staff members to ensure that they know about the LGBT acronym and then how they can provide better services.” -Justin Kamimoto, My LGBT Plus Founder.
Fresno Unified Interim Superintendent Bob Nelson says the district is committed to supporting LGBTQ students and developing the framework to do so.
“We talked about professional development for our staff around cultural competency to make sure that they can adequately address the issues of LGBT students feeling comfortable safe and supported on campus.” – Fresno Unified Interim Superintendent Bob Nelson
Nelson says a number of ideas were generated such as creating safe places on campus.
“One of the things we talked about was reestablishing a 1-800 number where students can call, all students – not just LGBTQ students but anybody that’s having trouble, a 24 hour hotline where kids can call and process their issues in live time with somebody who is caring and supportive, and trained to do that work.” – Interim Superintendent Bob Nelson.
Nelson says the next step is to take those ideas and present them to the board over the next two meetings.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
