Greetings GLSENeers,
The 2024 legislative session is right around the corner, scheduled to begin in early January. It’s important that community members continue to educate themselves and take steps to prepare to advocate for safe and LGBTQ+-affirming schools in Arizona.
In this edition of your Inclusive Policy Postcard, we will share a refresher about enumeration in public policy and encourage you to register for an upcoming Testimony Workshop. Don't forget to check out our roundup of local and national news!
DID YOU KNOW?: THE IMPORTANCE OF ENUMERATION IN STATE & LOCAL POLICIES
The term enumeration refers to identifying types of individuals or communities that need to be protected and explicitly naming them in public policies. LGBTQ+-inclusive enumeration, such as listing sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in anti-bullying or non-discrimination policies, has been consistently shown to improve school climates. Enumerated policies lead to less in-school bullying, greater feelings of overall safety among LGBTQ+ students, and a greater likelihood of interventions by teachers during incidents of bullying.
GLSEN Arizona encourages community members to advocate for enumeration in state and local policies.
Click here to read more.
CALL TO ACTION: THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY
There are many ways we could characterize testimonies given by community members to advocate for LGBTQ+ students. But across many powerful testimonies, including those that you can watch and listen to on GLSEN Arizona’s YouTube channel, there are three key elements:
Testimonies are personal: They’re tied to a community advocate’s personal or professional experience, as a queer or trans person or as someone who supports LGBTQ+ students.
Testimonies have an audience: They are shared with an intended audience in mind, often state lawmakers, local school board members, or community members.
Testimonies have a purpose: Testifiers have a specific reason for sharing them, often to persuade policymakers to vote a certain way in order to support LGBTQ+ students.
Learn more about testimony and storytelling to advocate for LGBTQ+ students at GLSEN Arizona’s next Testimony Workshop, taking place Wednesday 11/29 at 6 pm on Zoom.
IN THE NEWS:
Phoenix Elementary School District board moves to fire superintendent. Read more.
'We need more support for our kids': Dysart schools to eliminate all social workers after current school year. Learn more.
Virginia school board rejects $10k It Gets Better Grant supporting LGBTQ+ students. Read more.