ETXGSA: 2.13.2021
Intros: Name, pronouns, and if applicable school district, school, and role in GSA
Meeting norms: use the chat or raise your hand if you have questions, otherwise keep yourself on mute; no screenshots, recording or take photos for privacy reasons; don’t out anyone; be respectful.
East Texas: Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, Jasper, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Mason, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton counties. Open to negotiation though!
NTXGSA is forming!
ETXGSA.org is live! Lots of info, awareness days, orgs to donate to, sign up for next meetings, hotlines, how to get ahold of Frederick. Also join our Slack.
Discussed at the first ETXGSA meeting: deadnaming on virtual platforms; deadnames in yearbook; know your rights curriculum; inclusive sex ed; inclusivity training for admin and teachers; sex segregation for sports and extracurriculars; restroom access; and mental health supports in schools. See the suggestions for action items related to these topics on Jamboard!
Big win out of Houston iSD: they’re now allowing students to change their own names in virtual platforms! (Some schools are requiring parent permission to do so though, and there was no guidance provided by the district for schools on when or how to implement the changes.)
Know Your Rights Curriculum: Would it fall under government curriculum or elsewhere? Might be better earlier in the school career, or do it at the start of every year rather than only in senior year or added in/mixed with other things.
Be a Beacon: Out Youth is creating a training for school personnel on creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students which will roll out in Austin ISD in Spring.
Sex ed and bathrooms are issues everywhere, in so many ways. Guerrilla tactics for posters?
Join the Texas GSA Network Discord Server through Out Youth! But beware it’s dead at the moment. We’re trying to build it up!
Understanding political power and who to go to for what: School level- Administration, Principal; Elected officials- Public School Board Trustees; City Council or Town Council; Mayor; State Board of Education Representatives; State Representatives; State Senators; US Representatives; and US Senators.
GSA club successes and activity ideas: Jamboard; what would your school look like if everything was safe and equitable for all students; values exercises; exploring different identities (using Genderbread person or Gender Unicorn); community celebration and visibility days; invite speakers; Netflix watch party; train other clubs/classes/teachers/admin; research and activities on historical figures, Black history, GSA Day for Racial Justice; virtual scavenger hunts; arts & crafts, discuss the TRUTH Nine Point Platform; partner with other organizations (like anti-racism orgs, mental health orgs, advocacy/civic engagement orgs, etc.); check out Q+ EDU videos; sex ed discussions that are in-line with the grade levels the clubs serve (UNHUSHED, OWL, Teaching Sexual Health, Planned Parenthood, Native Youth Sexual Health Network etc.)
We do recommend surveying your club members (every semester or school year) to see what discussion topics they’re interested in and what activities they want to do!
Ongoing discussion: how do we get school personnel training in smaller/rural districts?