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PSD's Commitment to a Welcoming Environment

PSD is committed to ensuring that all students, including LGBTQIA+ students, have a safe and welcoming environment that is free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. PSD is proud to be a district that continuously strives to better include and support LGBTQIA+ students, families, staff, and community. 

See below to learn about the LGBTQIA+ community, discover ways that PSD supports LGBTQIA+ students, or connect to additional resources from local and national organizations. 

 

 

Learn About the LGBTQIA+ Community

 

Identities, Terms and Inclusive Language

The LGBTQIA+ community includes individuals who hold a spectrum of identities and orientations. The following documents support individuals who want to learn about identities and terms related to the LGBTQIA+ community and ways to increase inclusive language. 

• Looking to better understand how identities and terms relate to each other? LGBTQIA+ Terminology and Definitions: Categories - This document offers terms and definitions organized into categories (e.g., terms related to gender expression, types of attraction, cisgender vs. transgender, etc.).

• Looking for a specific term definition? LGBTQIA+ Terminology and Definitions: Alphabetical can help make this search easier with terms and definitions organized alphabetically.
   

 

PSD Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students and Families

 

Policies and Guidelines

While PSD policies may be applicable to all students, there are some policies and guidelines that contain information about prohibited discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression that may be uniquely relevant to LGBTQIA+ students and their families. 

• AC - Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity discusses discrimination based on protected classes, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
• JBB - Harassment of Students discusses prohibited harassment of students in general and specifically on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
• The District Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students clarify how discrimination and harassment policies and laws specifically apply to transgender and non-binary students and set out protocols for staff to address the needs and support students in various situations. 
• These PSD guidelines are summarized into key points for PSD staff here.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Gender Support in PSD answers common questions from students, families, and staff about the content of the District Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students. 

 

Board of Education Resolutions

The PSD Board of Education adopts resolutions throughout the year to recognize certain days, weeks or months as significant to individuals holding various identities and cultures within the PSD community, including resolutions that honor and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.

• October 2022 -
• June 2022 -
• March 31, 2022 -

 

School-Sponsored Student Clubs

Student clubs are intended to create safe spaces for students to connect with other students who identify within or are allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. All middle and high schools post information about their student clubs on their website, and the links below lead to the list of school-sponsored clubs at each school that currently sponsors a Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Spectrum, or similar club.

 

Incident Reporting: See Something, Say Something

Students are encouraged to report any incident of discrimination and/or harassment in PSD, including students who experience discrimination or harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Students who would like to report an incident online rather than in-person at their school may do so on PSD¡¯s See Something, Say Something reporting site.

 

Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. 

• ¨C Call or text 988 or chat online to get connected to a trained counselor at a crisis center. The 988 Lifeline began a pilot program in fall 2022 that aims to support people under the age of 25 who reach out to 988 Lifeline and want the option of connecting with a counselor specifically focused on meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. 
   
• ¨C Call 1-866-488-7386, text ¡®START¡¯ to 678-678, or chat online to get connected to a crisis counselor understands the challenges LGBTQIA+ young people face.

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

Legal Name and/or Gender Changes

Parents/guardians of LGBTQIA+ students who are looking for information about how to legally change their student¡¯s name and/or gender on identity documents, such as birth certificates and driver¡¯s licenses may find these organizations and resources in Colorado helpful:

• The Colorado Judicial Branch has a  that provides instructions about various name changes, including instructions for a parent petitioning for a child name change.
• is a nonprofit organization that assists transgender Coloradans with their legal name change and gender marker corrections.
• is the state¡¯s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for LGBTQ+ Coloradans and their families. The website includes information for transgender and non-binary individuals and their parents/guardians about updating their gender marker on their birth certificate, driver¡¯s license, or Colorado state ID.