A Dallas-area school district has received a grant of over $9,000 to “revive” its gender-sexuality alliance.
Richardson ISD, just north of Dallas, received a grant this year from the It Gets Better Project (IGBP) for a program it describes as an “initiative to fund projects that support and uplift LGBTQ+ identity in schools across the U.S. and Canada.” IGBP is distributing grants of up to $10,000 to 71 public or charter schools for a total of $645,000.
“This project will revive the school GSA [gender-sexuality alliance], host speakers, and provide student-led teacher training,” IGBP said of the grant received by Richardson ISD.
The grant was first reported on by Texas Scorecard.
Tim Clark, executive director of communications for Richardson ISD, said the grant was applied for by a student at Pearce High School (PHS) to help revive their GSA club, which became dormant during the pandemic shutdowns. His application was successful, and the school received $9,100 for its GSA club.
“The student hopes to use the funds to create a more inclusive environment at PHS where everyone feels welcome, including raising awareness about the club, creating promotional materials, being active in the community, and creating optional after-hours training for any PHS teachers who wish to better understand the GSA club or are interested in providing a safe and inclusive environment for students,” Clark told The Dallas Express.
Clark noted the GSA club is voluntary, student-initiated, and meets after school hours. The stated goal for the club, Clark said, is to establish a “place for LGBTQ+ students and allies to meet and discuss current events, school events and to have fun and feel safe.”
IGBP was founded in 2010 as a nonprofit that provides educational sources and media programming for LGBTQ youth. The group has a video series that features stories told by drag queens, people identifying as transgender, and other members of the LGBTQ community.
“Amid ongoing efforts to silence or stigmatize discussion about LGBTQ+ identity in the classroom, it’s more important than ever to ensure that LGBTQ+ students feel that they are welcomed, accepted and able to be their full selves at school,” said Brian Wenke, executive director of the IGBP.
The GSA national chapter was founded in 1998 “as a youth-driven organization that connects LGBTQ+ youth.” The group opposes laws that ban transgender procedures for minors, one of which is set to be enacted in Texas this year.
“Trans youth who have the bravery to be themselves, with their families and the schools supporting them, should be applauded- not criminalized,” Juniperangélica Gia Loving, GSA’s deputy director, said in a press release. “We urge all LGBTQ+ students to continue to meet and care for community, be creative in naming their clubs, and to continue to support each other and trans youth in particular.”
Parents across the nation have criticized LGBTQ groups at schools, which they claim keep them in the dark about ideas their children are introduced to or encouraged to believe. A California school last year investigated and banned a student LGBTQ group after its teacher sponsors were accused of singling out individual students to recruit them as members and keeping information about students’ participation in the club from parents.
