An LGBTQ-centered Dallas clinic appears to have taken down a webpage for the education program it offers in partnership with Dallas ISD that trains teachers on how to be “allies” to LGBTQ students.
The Out for Safe Schools program webpage seemingly no longer operates on the Resource Center website. Dallas ISD similarly deleted mentions of the program from its site, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The program was launched in 2018 as a partnership between Dallas ISD and the Resource Center — a clinic that specifically offers health-related services for LGBTQ people. An archived version of the Out for Safe Schools program on the Resource Center website described it as a “comprehensive anti-bullying training program designed to equip teachers, administrators and school staff to be visible LGBTQIA+ allies.”
“Educators and school staff that have completed the training are given OFSS rainbow badges and lanyards,” the page stated. “This visibly signifies their willingness to talk about LGBTQIA+ issues and concerns and provide support where needed. With these badges, staff members become mobile ‘safe spaces’ and reach students beyond the classroom, throughout the school day.”
Emails obtained in an open records request by The Dallas Express revealed years of struggles by Dallas ISD and the Resource Center, which provides transgender hormones and clearance letters for sex alteration surgeries, to convince teachers to sign up for the program, as previously reported.
“So far there are 2 people signed up, which is extremely frustrating due to how many people always reach out about this training. I also had 2 non-Dallas ISD employees email me about the training. I have sent reminder emails out about this Saturday,” Mahoganie Gaston of Dallas ISD emailed Leslie McMurray of the Resource Center on November 11, 2021.
McMurray, who helped coordinate the school program, identifies as a transgender woman and previously spoke at a Democratic Party event in Dallas. A LinkedIn page for McMurray was apparently deactivated after DX published these emails.
Neither Dallas ISD nor the Resource Center responded to requests for comment on whether the program still exists.
The Resource Center still has a webpage from 2020 touting grants it received for the Out for Safe Schools program. This included two grants from Toyota totaling $25,000.
Dallas ISD had previously told DX that reports on the Toyota grant for the program were “not factual.”
The school district appeared to backtrack on another LGBTQ-focused education plan this year after The Dallas Express wrote on it. The report detailed an “LGBTQ+ Resources for Dallas ISD & Surrounding Communities” document for students, parents, and teachers that explained how to transition genders. It listed two specific transgender clinics in Texas as references. The public document was made private after backlash following DX reports.
