Greetings GLSENeers,
With 2023 coming to a close, it’s hard to believe that the 2024 legislative session will start up so soon, in early January. In this edition of your Inclusive Policy Postcard, we will begin to prepare you for the coming legislative session and encourage you to register for our upcoming Testimony workshop. Don't forget to check out our roundup of local and national news!
DID YOU KNOW?: 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
GLSEN Arizona is currently hard at work with community partner organizations, students, educators, and families to ensure that the legislature prioritizes creating safer and more affirming K-12 schools. Here are some important things you can do to prepare:
Review GLSEN’s Public Policy Agenda for information about our federal, state, and local priorities.
Encourage others to Sign Up to receive updates from GLSEN Arizona, like our Monthly Newsletter and Calls to Action.
Attend our next Testimony workshop on Nov. 29th, to learn how to tell your story in support of LGBTQ+ students.
Register for the legislature’s Request to Speak (RTS) system, which allows you to alert legislators of your position on any bill (for vs. against) and to sign up to testify during a legislative committee hearing.
CALL TO ACTION: CRAFT YOUR OWN STORY TO ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQ+ STUDENTS
Interested in crafting your own story to advocate for LGBTQ+ students but don’t quite know how to start? Follow these four easy steps!
Reflect a bit on your own personal experiences – as an educator, a student, a parent, or as an ally.
Note the kinds of policies that connect most closely to your experiences, such as non-discrimination policies, anti-bullying policies, restrooms / facilities policies, or athletics policies.
Draft bullet points of what you want to say, and be concise! Note: A 2 minute testimony = about 3 paragraphs of writing.
Email us at policy@glsenarizona.org for additional resources and support!
IN THE NEW:
Attorney General’s Office takes up case on ASU attack, vows to protect LGBTQ+ community. Read more.
Tom Horne is violating students’ rights and promoting Islamophobia, critics say. Learn more.
Arizona Republican lawmakers announce plan to raise teacher pay. Read more.
Chino Valley Unified School District superintendent makes retirement plans official at governing board meeting. Learn more.
The U.N. Human Rights Committee is “deeply concerned” about anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in the U.S. Read more.