In Community Storytelling Series

Over the last several years, there has been a dramatic rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country. Although California is generally considered to be a champion of LGBTQ+ rights, local school districts in Riverside County are enacting dangerous policies that put queer and trans students at risk. We are proud to introduce our second installment of this In Community story focusing on the fight for safer schools for LGBTQ+ youth in our communities.

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and community partners are working together to protect LGBTQ+ students across Riverside County through the Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition, which believes that schools should be safe spaces for learning – regardless of a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 

All young people deserve affirming and inclusive spaces to learn, thrive, and be their full, authentic selves – free from harmful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies that violate their rights and negatively impact their mental health. 

A national survey on LGBTQ+ youth mental health conducted just last year, showcases some alarming statistics: The survey found that nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide and 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Further, the survey found that fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be gender-affirming. Although this data is alarming, it details the importance of safe and supportive school environments, as LGBTQ youth who found their school to be affirming, reported lower rates of suicide attempts than those who did not have supportive school environments.

The Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition includes members from the following organizations, as well as individual community members: Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, Transgender Resource Advocacy Network Service (T.R.A.N.S.), Alianza, LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, IE Prism Collective, Our Schools East Valley, Equality California, SBX Youth & Family Services, Riverside Pride, IE United, Expanding Identities Development.

Learn more about the important and timely work of the Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition, and how to take action at voteforchoice.org/studentsafetycoalition

Sanitation justice is a reproductive justice issue. Lack of access to safe, clean public restrooms affects people's ability to take care of themselves and their reproductive health. 

Learn about the important work Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest’s community partners, Think Dignity and The Project for Sanitation Justice, are doing to address the disparities in accessing public restrooms across San Diego, and how you can get involved.

The Project for Sanitation Justice was launched in 2020 with the goal of identifying and visualizing existing public restroom facilities to drive action towards more just and equitable decision-making around public restrooms in San Diego County.

The Project’s most recent report sheds light on the low levels of accessible public restroom facilities, and confirms the public health peril limited access to clean, safe restroom facilities poses to the health and safety of communities like San Diego. Indeed, their findings indicate that less than half (47%) of the permanent restrooms in Downtown San Diego are truly open access.

Our vision at Planned Parenthood is to create a world where sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights, where access to health care, public restrooms, and basic menstrual hygiene products doesn’t depend on who you are or where you live, and where everyone has the opportunity to choose their own path to a healthy and meaningful life. 

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest proudly stands with partners Think Dignity and The Project for Sanitation Justice, to ensure that all people have access to the health care and resources they need to live healthy, meaningful lives — no matter what.