LGBTQ+ Community

Welcome to the LGBTQ+ community page.

**If you are an IUSD student looking for support, please contact your Elementary Resource Counselor, School Psychologist, Counselor or Mental Health Specialist at your school. If this is a life threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.**

Here you will find resources for students, parents, families and staff to help support and address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. IUSD is committed to creating an inclusive learning environment for all students and families.

Please join our LGBTQ+ Community Advocacy meeting. Register here.

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24-25 LGBTQ+ Community Advocacy flyer. Tuesday, October 1st, December 3rd, February 25th and April 29th 9-11am. Register at bit.ly/IUSDLGBTQcommunity

There are many supports available in IUSD. Please contact our LGBTQ+ Community Liaison with any additional questions.

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LGBTQ Supports in IUSD

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Sex | refers to the biological and physiological differences that differenitiate men from women.

Gender | refers to the socially constructed roles of masculinity and feminiity through behaviors, activiites and mannerisms.

Common definitions for LGBTQ+

Ally | A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQ+ community who support each other.

Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may experience no, little or conditional sexual attraction.

Bisexual | A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with pansexual.

Cisgender | A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Coming Out | The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates their sexual orientation or gender identity and begins to share that with others

Gay | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. Men, women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves.

Gender-Affirming Care | Defined by the World Health Organization, encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions "designed to support and affirm an individual's gender identity" when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth. These interventions include emotional, interpersonal and biological aspects of their gender identity. 

Gender identity | One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Gender non-conforming | A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. While many also identify as transgender, not all gender non-conforming people do.

Genderqueer | Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.

Intersex | Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. There is a wide variety of difference among intersex variations, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits.

Gender binary A system in which gender is constructed into two strict categories of male or female. Gender identity is expected to align with the sex assigned at birth and gender expressions and roles fit traditional expectations.

Gender dysphoria | Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify.

Gender-expansive | A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. Often used as an umbrella term when referring to young people still exploring the possibilities of their gender expression and/or gender identity.

Gender expression | External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.

Gender-fluid | A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender or has a fluid or unfixed gender identity.

Lesbian | A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves.

LGBTQ+ | An acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer” with a "+" sign to recognize the limitless sexual orientations and gender identities used by members of our community.

Non-binary | An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. Non-binary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer or gender-fluid.

Pansexual | Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with bisexual.

Queer | A term people often use to express a spectrum of identities and orientations that are counter to the mainstream. Queer is often used as a catch-all to include many people, including those who do not identify as exclusively straight and/or folks who have non-binary or gender-expansive identities. This term was previously used as a slur, but has been reclaimed by many parts of the LGBTQ+ movement.

Questioning | A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sex assigned at birth | The sex, male, female or intersex, that a doctor or midwife uses to describe a child at birth based on their external anatomy.

Sexual orientation | An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. Note: an individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity.

Transgender | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.

Transitioning A series of processes that some transgender people may undergo in order to live more fully as their true gender. This typically includes social transition, such as changing name and pronouns, medical transition, which may include hormone therapy or gender affirming surgeries, and legal transition, which may include changing legal name and sex on government identity documents. Transgender people may choose to undergo some, all or none of these processes.

Information for this page was gathered from the Human Rights Campaign.

The following list of rights, which are based on the relevant provisions of the federal regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sex. 1681 et seq.), may be used by the department for the purposes of Section 221.6:

(a) You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.

(b) You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics.

(c) You have the right to inquire of the athletic director of your school as to the athletic opportunities offered by the school.

(d) You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships.

(e) You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following:

     (1) Equipment and supplies.

     (2) Scheduling of games and practices.

     (3) Transportation and daily allowances.

     (4) Access to tutoring.

     (5) Coaching.

     (6) Locker rooms.

     (7) Practice and competitive facilities.

     (8) Medical and training facilities and services.

     (9) Publicity.

(f) You have the right to have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions regarding gender equity laws.

(g) You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on gender equity laws.

(h) You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Office of Civil Rights or the State Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against of if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basics of your sex.

(i) You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against. 

(j) You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

AB 1266 (f) A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.

 

Agencies/organizations that appear on this page do not constitute an endorsement of the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) nor should an exclusion of other websites be considered intentional. Opinions expressed are solely those of the host website and not necessarily those of IUSD. Any advertising presented is solely the responsibility of the host website and not IUSD. Additionally, references, links, products or services displayed by the websites are not to be considered endorsements of IUSD.

LGBTQ Center of OC- Offers a parent processing group that meets twice a month. 

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Parent's Processing Therapy Group

 

LGBTQ Center of OC and Wellness and Prevention Center- New group this school year. 

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Families Uplifting Families

 

PFLAG- (Parents, families, friends) Has two chapters: Orange County and South Orange County

Transforming Family-In person and online support groups based in LA. Groups flyer

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Transforming Family support group flyer

 

Agencies/organizations that appear on this page do not constitute an endorsement of the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) nor should an exclusion of other websites be considered intentional. Opinions expressed are solely those of the host website and not necessarily those of IUSD. Any advertising presented is solely the responsibility of the host website and not IUSD. Additionally, references, links, products or services displayed by the websites are not to be considered endorsements of IUSD.

LGBTQ Center of OC- individual, family and group therapy. In person and telehealth.

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LGBTQ Center Youth Groups
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LGBTQ Center Mental Health Groups

 South County Groups are held at Shanti Orange County 23461 South Pointe Dr., Suite 100 Laguna Hills, CA 92653

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LGBTQ Center South County groups
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LGBTQ Center Youth Leadership

 

Radiant Health Center- individual, family and group therapy in Irvine. For LGBTQ+ youth, adults and families. Groups offered

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Radiant Spring 2024 workshops

Radiant also has a teen drop in center.

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Radiant Youth Drop-In Center

 

Trevor Project- 24/7 crisis support (chat, call, text)

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Trevor Project Crisis line flyer

FAQ Name/Gender changes

Unfortunately, not everything. While schools and districts have more control over how student information is displayed and used at school, we do not have control over the state and federal systems. For state processes, including standardized testing (CAASPP, Physical Fitness), and state reporting, your legal name and gender will be used. For anything related to the federal government (work permits that require a social security number, financial aid forms or college applications that require a social security number or tax ID), you will need to use your legal name and gender. For the college application process, you will need to check with each college or university you plan to apply for so that you can learn about their policies and practices, which may differ. Additionally, there are certain official student records, including transcripts, which must have a student’s legal name unless or until changed through the applicable legal procedures. 

We take student privacy very seriously, and limit access to this information to only a few people who need it for their job duties, mostly as it pertains to enrollment, transcripts, and state reporting. At the District Office, there are a few people who manage our student data systems, state and federal reporting, and enrollment offices who would have access to this information. Your teachers will see only the name and gender that appears on their class rosters. However, as explained above, there may be occasions where only legal names with no current or affirmed name are used (for example, CAASPP testing, documents related to special education, or perhaps for your college applications). A student’s legal name and gender may be disclosed in the event of a health or safety emergency. If you have concerns about any of these situations, you may want to discuss them with your Counselor, Administrator or School Mental Health Staff when you meet with them. 

There is ambiguity in the law as to the extent that a parent/guardian control’s a student’s educational records. The Education Code and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) dictate that only the parent/guardian can request changes to the student’s record. However, the California Department of Education has issued guidance in this area, which highlights the critical necessity in protecting a student’s privacy interest if they cannot express their gender identity at home. As such, with these two conflicting areas of law, we recommend but do not require parent/guardian approval. 

Contact your School Counselor, Mental Health Staff or School Administrator to make an appointment for you and a parent/guardian (if applicable) to begin the process. During your meeting, the School Staff will explain the process, where the name/gender change applies and does not apply, and answer any questions you may have. 

There is no limitation for how many times you request to make the change, however because of the legal framework in place; we request that you be mindful that this is considered a very serious decision.

While this process was implemented with the concerns of transgender and gender non-conforming students in mind, it can apply to any IUSD student who identifies by a different name and/or gender than their legal name/gender. We ask that students are respectful and thoughtful about their decision to make this request.

Our school staff are here to support you, and can talk this through with you. While you can certainly talk to any trusted adult on campus, there are staff that are trained with more knowledge about student records and this process. Here are some people at your school that would be able to help answer your questions about this process: 

  • School Counselor 
  • Elementary Resource Counselor or Mental Health Specialist
  • School Psychologist 
  • Principal 
  • Assistant Principal 
  • Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Advisor
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