Idaho Safe Schools Coalition Mission:
To help Idaho schools become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Get our latest brochure HERE! | Get our latest newsletter HERE!
Activists Mobilizing for Power (AMP) Conference Scholarships!
ISSC is excited to offer scholarships again this year for adults and students to attend this fantastic regional conference. Please check out the AMP webpage for all the details about the conference.
When: July 26-28
Where: Reed College, Portland, OR
Cost: If you receive an ISSC scholarship, we will cover ALL your costs including registration, travel, lodging, etc.
For those wishing to attend on an ISSC scholarship, please fill out the application here. Applications are due to ISSC by Friday, May 31st
What’s Happening!
ISSC is delighted to announce the election of the following individuals to the Executive Board:
Melissa Borg- Co-Chair
Lisa McClain- Secretary
Starr Johnson- Membership Director
Marisol Cervantes- Youth Leadership Liaison
Zach Bramwell- Youth Leadership Liaison
2013 Diversity Prom
May 4th, 8-11 pm
Boise State University (BSU) Student Union Building, Hatch Ballroom
An open and inclusive event for youth (age 14-20). If you haven’t been, you’re missing out on the fun! Check out the flier or Facebook page for details.
Power of One LGBTA Leadership Conference: Becoming Inclusive Leaders
Boise State University, April 26-28, 2013
Geared toward college and high school students looking to become a better leader!
ISSC is providing an awesome opportunity for students to attend the conference. Fill out the application below and email it to us at IdahoSSC@gmail.com. Scholarships are still available!
PDF version fill-out capable form (requires Adobe Flash). Microsoft Word version.
This NASPA LGBTQA leadership conference invites students to educate and learn about intersecting identities while promoting social justice. We aim to create a respectful, open, and widely accessible environment in which participants will be challenged to apply the things they learn into their lives after they leave the conference. We hope to foster an understanding of difference that emphasizes discussion and social interaction, remembering that we are all at varying levels of knowledge and experience, and that those differences enhance our communities.
New Program Manager
ISSC’s first paid staffer has been hired for our part-time position. Please help us welcome Adrienne Evans to ISSC!
Adrienne Evans comes to us as a Sociologist, with a background in Nonprofits and Marketing. Adrienne also serves as the Executive Director for United Vision for Idaho and United Action for Idaho, organizations that have been building bridges between diverse people and organizations, engaging them and acting as the umbrella for progressive change here in Idaho. In its history the organization has fought for the rights of Idaho citizens. The group is a non-partisan, multi-issue organization that advocates for economic, social and environmental justice. The umbrella group is all about the issues that unite people, and getting people engaged to work toward shared goals of success. Among their members is the Idaho Safe Schools Coalition.
Adrienne brings tremendous experience and skill to our organization, and the work she will be doing for us will assist us in goal of creating a strong and sustainable organization that can realize equality here in Idaho. Adrienne is an avid activist but perhaps more than that she loves her dogs and taking a break from it all in Idaho’s outdoors
ISSC Youth & Meridian School District GSA battle featured in Boise Weekly
The Boise Weekly profiled the student organization policy debacle in Meridian, reporting on the events that lead up to both the original and eventual revised policy. Alejandra Ayon and Eric Anderson were both interviewed for the article. They both recounted the important of having a GSA during their experiences in high school. You can read the article here.
Two other Boise Weekly articles have also covered relevant politics:
The Bully Pulpit: The Politics of Defining – and Dealing with – Bullying (June, 2011)
Equality Now: How Idaho Can Move Forward on LGBT Rights (June, 2011)
Success! The Meridian School District policy has been amended to account for our suggestions
Breaking news on the Meridian School Board front – they have listened to our requests! With help from Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Idaho, we have fought hard to oppose and provide suggestions to improve the original discriminatory policy. The latest version of the proposed policy was passed at their latest board meeting on October 25th. We would like to commend the Board for making these changes and are encouraged by these recent steps that promote respect and safety of LGBTQ students.
Here is the newest policy for school clubs. In this version, they have removed the requirement of parental consent, removed the “exempt” tier of clubs, and evened out the playing field for curriculum and non-curriculum clubs. Previously we convinced them to remove the section denying a club that “advocates or approves sexual activity outside of marriage”, and they actually included a protected clause that specifically allows a club’s purpose or activities to include “discussion as to sexual orientation including such subjects as combating unfair treatment, prejudices or stereotypes.”
Add the Words, Idaho! No one should be fired for being gay
New Human Rights Act legislation aimed at fair employment has kicked off with an “Add the Words, Idaho” campaign. The group is looking for sticky notes from people all over Idaho. Send them to addthewordsssticky@gmail.com, text them to 208 724-1761, or check out the website at http://addthewords.org/.
Donate now to the Idaho Safe Schools Coalition
Select the Donate Now button which will guide you to our partner’s webpage: The Idaho Human Rights Education Center. From there, select the blue Donate Now! button. Please be sure to type in Idaho Safe Schools Coalition under the Designation (Optional) section on the donation page.
