October: LGBTQ+ History Month
Check out lgbthistorymonth.com to learn more about famous LGBTQ+ people.
Also visit the Santa Cruz County Office of Education's LGBTQ+ History Month Challenge page!
October 9: Queer, Trans & Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast
AND
Understanding Gender Parent and Educator Summit
October 11: National Coming Out Day
October 21: International Pronouns Day
November: Transgender Awareness Month
November 20: Trans Day of Remembrance
April 23: Day of Silence
May 22: Harvey Milk Day
June: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
First Sunday in June: Santa Cruz Pride
The PVUSD Board of Trustees voted unanimously on 2/24/21 to approve flying the rainbow Pride flag at all PVUSD buildings! Click below to watch the video of the board meeting including public comments and discussion.
LGBTQ Students
PVUSD is committed to supporting students of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our district understands that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students are at higher risk for bias-based bullying and suicide, and may not have support at home. It is crucial that schools provide safety and support for all LGBTQ+ students. The PVUSD LGBTQ+ Task Force, comprised of site administrators, counseling staff and GSA/QSA Club Advisors, is working to increase awareness and support of LGBTQ+ students in PVUSD, support all PVUSD schools in becoming compliant with the FAIR Education Act, and improve safety and equity for LGBTQ+ students.
Every PVUSD school site is encouraged to host a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance/Genders and Sexualities Alliance), QSA (Queer Straight Alliance), or equivalent club for students. These clubs offer LGBTQ+ and ally students important support, validation, safety, and the opportunity to be school leaders and educate their school communities about diversity.
Currently, GSA/QSA clubs exist at almost every PVUSD high school and middle school, and one elementary school.
Aptos High School Rainbow Alliance
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts GSA and GSA Junior
Cesar Chavez Middle School GSA
EA Hall Middle School Diversity Club
Pajaro Middle School
Rolling Hills Middle School
Watsonville High School SAGA Club
If you are requesting a name and gender change on official documents, please contact Student Services at (831) 786-2390 or studentservices@pvusd.net .
- -Gender Affirmation Support Plan
- -School Roster Information Change Request
- -PVUSD forms page (in case above links are unavailable)
Click here for LGBTQ+ History Month resources for students, families, and staff!
Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US, inspired the rainbow pride flag, and was assassinated along with the mayor of San Francisco in 1978. Harvey Milk Day, May 22, was designated as a day of special significance in California public schools by the governor in 2009, to recognize his contributions as a civil rights hero.
The PVUSD Board of Trustees voted unanimously on 2/24/21 to approve flying the pride flag at all school sites and buildings for Harvey Milk Day, the month of June (LGBTQ Pride month) and the month of October (LGBTQ History month).
PVUSD will be celebrating Harvey Milk Day on Friday, May 21, 2021 since the 22nd is on a Saturday this year. All PVUSD school sites and buildings will fly the rainbow Pride flag in honor of Harvey Milk Day, and we will have a flag raising event at the PVUSD District Office on Friday 5/21 at 10am, followed immediately by a flag raising at EA Hall Middle School. Click here to watch the livestream of our flag raising event!
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education will also have a Harvey Milk pride flag raising event, on Tuesday 5/18/21 from 8:30-8:45am, featuring videos from several PVUSD students. click here to watch the event live on youtube!
The pride flag that was chosen for all PVUSD school sites is the Progress pride flag, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018, which makes the original six stripe rainbow pride flag more inclusive by adding a 5 stripe chevron on one side with white, pink, and blue stripes to represent the transgender community and brown and black stripes to represent queer communities of color.
For more information about Harvey Milk Day, see the Santa Cruz County Office of Education's Raising the Rainbow Flag slide presentation
