2025 ACSA Lead With Pride Summit

Despite strong laws in California that protect our transgender/non-binary students, there is intense pushback in many districts and increasing confusion amongst staff regarding what they can talk about with queer youth. This workshop will provide tools to engage in positive and affirming conversations with transgender/non-binary students. Whether a student comes out to you for the first time, or you engage in ongoing conversations with them, come learn supportive and affirming ways to connect. Be that loving staff who stands up for transgender/non-binary youth through conversations that can help them feel affirmed in their gender, safe at school and celebrated for who they are.

Join us for an engaging and interactive session designed specifically for administrators and school leaders. This session will explore the progress, challenges, and strategies in fostering inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ students and families. Through storytelling, data sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, participants will leave equipped with actionable tools and insights to support their school communities.

Key Takeaways:
- Building Community with family, student and teachers
- We must use Data to help schools commit to actions
- Soliciting student , family and staff voice through inquiry and fishbowl protocols will build collective efforts

Administrators rely on the important skill of building consensus across diverse perspectives. This workshop will give administrators specific tools to effectively build allyship for LGBTQ inclusive education among historically reluctant audience.

ince the beginning of 2024, over 660 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the country, the majority of which target transgender youth in particular. Many of these bills are backed by pseudoscience and false information targeting gender affirming care and the affects of hormones on the body. In this workshop, we will be going through an expansive conversation of transgender reproduction that will allow you to give your students the inclusive sex education they need, equipping them with up-to-date, evidence-based, non-judgmental information so that they are able to make safe and informed decisions with their bodies. The content will cover the history, science, and experience of transgender reproduction, and will touch on the legal movement determined to hide it.

The experiences of Queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
(BIPOC) have been excluded in Queer Educator research, which often focuses on White Queer educators or omits race as a variable (Boren & McPherson, 2018; Conrad, 2018; Taylor, 2018; Thomas-Durrell, 2020; Toledo & Maher, 2019). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of Queer BIPOC teachers
in the Southern California P-12 school system. Specifically, (a) what are out Queer BIPOC teachers' experiences (b) how did they make the decision to come out, and (c) what are their experiences with discrimination based on their Queer,
BIPOC, or intersectional identities. The goal of this qualitative study was to give a voice to a historically marginalized group, Queer BIPOC teachers. A total of six participants, five Latino/a/e and one Pacific Islander participated in this study.

Participants represented three school levels, elementary, middle, and high school. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. A total of five domains emerged from the data: (a) Outness on Campus, (b) Coming Out, (c) Mental Health, (d) Supportive Networks, and (e) Unsupportive Networks. Key findings included participants coming out because they wanted to be their authentic selves at work, Queer BIPOC teachers experiencing discrimination at work, and how administrators’ decisions can affect Queer BIPOC teachers’ mental health during
experiences of discrimination.

Dive into the transformative power of identity work in educational settings. This interactive session explores how educators and staff can leverage their own identities to create safe, authentic spaces that empower both themselves and their students. Through a guided "Identity Walk" exercise, participants will gain profound insights into their own multifaceted identities and learn strategies to build bridges across diverse communities, even when they may not personally identify with the groups they serve.

Moving beyond self-reflection, we'll engage in collaborative table talks to unpack our learnings and discuss practical approaches to fostering meaningful connections and building inclusive communities within our schools. The session culminates with a vital resource-sharing component, focusing on the specific needs of queer staff and students. Participants will leave equipped with actionable strategies to thoughtfully curate and promote resources that demonstrate genuine consideration for vulnerable students, as well as ideas for incorporating these inclusive practices into broader school initiatives and policies. Join us for an enlightening exploration of how embracing our full selves can create a more supportive and thriving educational environment for all.

3 Audience Takeaways:
* Explore intersectional identity and how to leverage elements of self for building supportive community
* Engage in conversation about current practices and perceived hurdles
* Receive resources they can put in place as individuals to do inclusion work with or without a structured school initiative or policy

Over the last decade of LGBTQ+ activism within the Castro Valley Unified School District—through GSAs, alliances, educational programming, marches, community events, school murals, and more—students have remained not only the powerhouse of the movement, but the primary beneficiary of the changes brought about. Through a sustained and concerted effort; teachers, staff, families, and community members have assumed the roles of essential stakeholders in this district-based activism, and together they have provided and will continue to provide the building blocks necessary for the creation of a safer and more supportive environment—not just on campus, but throughout the wider Castro Valley community. This presentation will provide a summary and tour of Castro Valley Unified School District’s “LGBTQ+ Thrive Guide,” a written toolkit detailing the history of Castro Valley and its many LGBTQ+ initiatives with the intent to offer other school districts seeking to better support their LGBTQ+ community a framework for action and ideas to pull inspiration from. The guide is rich in resources, case studies, best practices, advice, examples, explanations, and templates to better support every stakeholder at every step of the work.

This workshop will explore innovative ways to empower young people and strengthen organizational partnerships in the context of Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE). Designed for educators, community leaders, and youth-serving organizations, this session highlights the importance of amplifying youth voices in cannabis prevention and addressing the triangulum, especially among health disparity groups, while fostering systematic collaborations that drive long-term impact.

Participants will gain insights into how partnerships within and across organizations can enhance outreach, increase capacity, and effectively engage priority populations. Through an interactive session, we will explore strategies to build meaningful collaborations, address health disparities, and create inclusive, youth-centered programs.

Two youth-led initiatives will take center stage in this workshop: the Peer Advocate Advisory Council (PAAC) and the Unity Youth Conference (UYC) Planning Committee. These programs demonstrate how youth leadership can shape advocacy, awareness, and community-building projects to drive impactful change in cannabis prevention.
PAAC is a youth leadership group in Santa Clara County dedicated to advancing health equity through community advocacy, peer education, and media campaigns. Members lead initiatives grounded in research and innovation, addressing issues that matter most to their peers. Their efforts highlight the power of youth leadership in creating a healthier future for their peers in Santa Clara County.

The Unity Youth Conference, designed and led by the youth planning committee, is a vibrant platform for fostering allyship, pride, and inclusivity. Featuring engaging youth led workshops, wellness resources, and drag art, the conference provides a safe and celebratory space for ALL youth. The UYC demonstrates how events planned by youth can empower their communities while addressing critical health topics, such as cannabis prevention and mental wellness.

Attendees will also learn how to incorporate data-based decision-making into project facilitation, outreach efforts, and organizational partnerships. This approach ensures that interventions are targeted, effective, and impactful for priority populations, such as LGBTQ+ youth affected by cannabis use and health inequities.
By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with actionable strategies for enhancing partnerships and supporting youth-led initiatives. They will leave inspired to foster youth empowerment, build capacity, and create sustainable systems that amplify youth voices and serve their communities effectively.

Join me for an enlightening lecture on allyship and the backlash against DEIB, illustrating how individuals can bring about change and education during opposition. Discover how to be a supportive ally in both your workplace and community, while recognizing and dismantling biases and discrimination. This discussion focuses on transcending hatred and embracing comprehension, diversity, and inclusivity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Through captivating narratives, storytelling, and an interactive PowerPoint, you'll learn how to navigate differences to foster a positive atmosphere at work and in your community. The session also addresses diversity, inclusivity, and proper pronoun usage. Don't miss out on this opportunity to empower yourself to instigate personal, professional, and community changes.

Key Takeaways:
* Personal storytelling can change hearts and minds.
* How to be a support ally.
* Fostering positivity at work and in your community.

Recognizing a growing need to support LGBTQ inclusivity in education, Leading LGBTQ+ Supportive Education was added to the complement of professional development opportunities for school administrators offered by the Los Angeles Unified Human Resources Division. The series focused on critical topics such as transformational leadership, administrator wellness, human capital management, coaching, and leading computer science.
This session aimed to equip school site leaders with the knowledge and tools to foster affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. Topics included foundational LGBTQ+ definitions and concepts, an overview of relevant LAUSD and state policies, and strategies for implementing visible support and inclusive language. The professional development also emphasized the importance of establishing LGBTQ+ liaisons, creating student groups like Genders & Sexualities Alliances, and embedding ongoing training for administrators to address real-world scenarios.
Participants noted several key takeaways:
• The critical role of inclusive language and visible allyship in fostering affirming school spaces.
• The need for sustained training to deepen understanding and tackle practical challenges.
• The value of scenario-based learning and access to dedicated resources to implement LGBTQ+ policies effectively.
This presentation will highlight the program's design, key learning outcomes, and participant feedback while sharing actionable strategies for attendees to replicate.

Discussions on gender and sexuality typically focus on the United States perspective, with English dominating the language we use to discuss these topics. What happens when we switch languages? Cultures? Perspectives? How can these differences impact discussions about Queerness and Queer liberation between people of various cultures?

3 Key Audience Takeaways:
Participants will understand how language and culture influence perspectives of queerness.
Participants will have examples of how Queer people are treated in other countries.
Participants will understand how complex the decision to come out can be for a Queer Person of Color.

This interactive workshop explores the transformative partnership between San Joaquin Pride Center and Stockton Unified School District, aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. Attendees will gain insights into how collaboration between nonprofits and educational institutions can address key challenges such as bullying, mental health, and equitable access to resources.
The session will cover:
• Strategies for creating affirming spaces within schools.
• Training and support programs for educators and staff.
• The impact of community partnerships on student well-being and academic success.
Participants will leave with actionable tools, templates, and inspiration to replicate similar partnerships in their communities. This workshop is ideal for educators, school administrators, nonprofit leaders, and advocates dedicated to equity in education.

The Safe and Supportive Schools Report Card shares data gathered from 146 unified school districts in California on district-wide policies and practices that support LGBTQ+ student wellbeing and education.

This workshop will break down the underlying California Education Code that guides the survey and report, share the statewide and regional data, and discuss how the report card can be used as an advocacy tool for local stakeholders. Participants will leave knowing what is expected of school districts in California and how to take that information back to decision makers in their district.