October 10, 2023

Dearest Colleagues,

Over this last weekend, students and staff alike have been learning about incomprehensible identity-based violence in Israel and Gaza. Many students have read testimonies of terrorism and seen graphic images of sexual violence, and are now sitting in our classrooms heavy with grief and worry. Students may need to connect to school and community resources as they grapple with these horrific events, including sexual violence and rape. It's important that school staff consider how to address these issues with care in our classrooms, especially considering students who are Jewish, Muslim, and/or are survivors of sexual violence. Please see the Social Science Newsletter from yesterday, October 9th, for more social emotional learning resources for families and educators to support students. The Sex Ed Open Learning Project also has lessons available on media literacy and violence prevention that may be helpful to address misinformation and social media.

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15th-Oct 15th) offers an additional opportunity to connect health, identity, culture, and community. This Hispanic Heritage Month, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino created a virtual exhibit, ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States, that explores the diverse historical legacies, immigration stories, intersectional identities and unique contributions of Latina/o/x people of the United States, including their role in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and making a more just and inclusive society.

And finally, October is also LGBTQ+ History Month, and National Coming Out Day is on October 11th. This newsletter includes resources on incorporating more LGBTQ2SIA+ history into classrooms, as well as other updates, relevant news, resources, and opportunities for further learning.

Section photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR

Get Connected to the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Program during LGBTQ+ History Month

ODE is committed to supporting Oregon school districts and education partners to create LGBTQ2SIA+ affirming school communities through a wide range of strategies outlined in the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan.

Districts and schools who are not sure where to start should consider reviewing Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools ​for tools and resources sorted by audience. Educators who want to honor LGBTQ+ History Month all year round may consider the LGBTQ2SIA+ Inclusive Instructional Materials Examples. Subscribe to the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Listserv for program updates and regular newsletters with timely resources.