A small group of Gunn parents recently collaborated with Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) adviser Daisy Renazco to form the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) parent network. “Because it’s all relatively new, the beginning stages are to figure out what our focus should be, while creating a safe space for parents and students,” Renazco said.

Renazco said she wants to make the group as inclusive as possible. “We want LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) parents and the parents of LGBT students to feel comfortable.”

So far, the parent-driven network consists of ten members, and has made several accomplishments within the past few months. The group has worked to replace the words “mother and father,” with “parent and guardian,” on permission forms teachers occasionally send home to parents.

In addition, the parent network convinced the school to place an announcement on the electronic board at the school entrance to read, “October is GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) History Month. Just Google It.”

Junior GSA president Jessie Belfer supports the network. “I think it is a great idea to get the parents of LGBT students together because it can be hard for them to come to terms with their child’s sexuality,” Belfer said. “They need a space where they can talk about it with other people who are going through the same thing. I think what they are doing is really important.”

The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) formed a LGBTQ committee, which includes teachers, parents and community members, to work on the issue. According to sponsor of the LGBTQ committee Becki Cohn-Vargas, the issues are about raising staff awareness of how to make schools safe, how to respond to harassment or bullying and supporting LGBTQ students who have questions or needs. “We have a welcoming environment at our schools,” Cohn-Vargas wrote in an e-mail message. “I am happy to work with the newly formed parent network to help work on the issues.”

Palo Alto High School (Paly) also recently established a LGBTQ network. Like Renazco, Paly GSA adviser Magdalena Rivera discusses issues with Paly parents and students regarding awareness and safety.

Those interested in attending an LGBTQ parent network meeting can e-mail Renazco at drenazco@pausd.org for further information.