Cuts Are Threatening SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services
SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services program is the oldest program of its kind in the world. It has been innovating and setting the standard for whole student support for more than 35 years! Responsibility for the many district-wide initiatives required to support San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ students comes down to one individual. Holding down the full-time position, for now, is R35 LGBTQ+ School Climate Coordinator Kena Hazelwood.
Kena Hazelwood (ey/em), a third-generation SFUSD employee, received a preliminary layoff notice in March. State fiscal advisor Elliott Duchon is forcing SFUSD to cut this role by refusing to rescind layoff notices for roles like Hazelwood’s. Duchon isn’t budging despite the district’s unwillingness to eliminate Hazelwood’s position. Additionally, SFUSD is more than willing to continue paying them.
There is no back-up plan, no second-in-command ready to step up and take Hazelwood’s place. Letting them go will devastate SFUSD’s ability to support the needs of their LGBTQ+ staff, faculty, students and families. And it couldn’t come at a worse time. As our political landscape grows increasingly hostile to marginalized people, including queer folk, SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services become more essential. Is failing to stand up for our queer and trans community when they need it most what California wants to be known for?
What LGBTQ+ Student Services Does
Hazelwood fulfills multiple responsibilities through SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services. When you look at it by the numbers, the stakes become clear. Here’s what hangs in the balance as we rally to protect Hazelwood’s position.
- The Queer-Trans Advisory Council: 22 high school students from throughout the district.
- 32 middle and high school Gender and Sexualities Alliances
- 25 elementary school Rainbow Clubs
- 20 psychoeducational secondary wellness groups, in partnership with LYRIC
- An MSW internship
A significant portion of San Francisco’s youth are about to enter a social sphere shaped by Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric. Their strongest hope for survival rests in creating durable community bonds and safe places to gather. More than 30% of SFUSD middle and high school students identify as LGBTQ+, 83% of whom also identify as people of color. SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services aren’t just a group of extracurricular activities, they’re a model for queer perseverance.
SFUSD’s LGBTQ+ Student Services has proven effective!
LGBTQ+ high school students districtwide are:
- 31% less likely to experience bullying at school than the national average.
- 25% less likely to have tried cigarettes than the national average.
- 24% less likely to have sex than the national average.
- 15% less likely to skip school than the national average.
- 20% less likely to attempt suicide.
…than the national average for LGBTQ+ High School Students (YRBS, 2023).
Faithfully providing a good education means arming students with relevant knowledge as they age closer to young adulthood. Without protecting LGBTQ+ Students and the programs they rely on, SFUSD is being forced to betray their Vision Values, Goals and Guardrails. Kena Hazelwood is an essential paraeducator. They form a vital support network for students, especially the most vulnerable. Paraeducators assist students with disabilities, multilingual learners, those experiencing trauma and/or are marginalized.
Laying off the LGBTQ+ Coordinator and other paraeducators will directly harm student learning and well-being. Cutting Hazelwood’s role means cutting LGBTQ+ Student Services. Without this successful network, key structural support for LGBTQ+ students will collapse.
How You Can Help!
San Francisco residents: Email Sen. Scott Wiener by clicking this link and selecting ‘issue – other’
All Californians: Email the California State Board of Education using this link.
Next, copy + paste the template below, correct for the recipient, leave your name, and send.
Dear [Members of the State Board of Education] or [Senator Wiener],
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to allow the San Francisco Unified School District to rescind paraeducator layoff notices and preserve its LGBTQ+ Student Services program.
Despite having funds to support this vital work, SFUSD is currently blocked from keeping its LGBTQ+ Student Services Coordinator because state-appointed fiscal advisor Elliott Duchon has refused to authorize the reversal of layoff notices for paraeducators. This bureaucratic technicality threatens to eliminate the only position supporting LGBTQ+ students and staff in the district.
For over 35 years, this program has set the standard for LGBTQ+ student support. LGBTQ+ students in SFUSD still face high rates of mental health issues and safety concerns, as shown in the 2024 YRBS results. Removing this role will gut the program and leave many students without critical support.
SFUSD is not asking for new funding—only the authority to use the funding it already has. Please, step in to prevent the loss of this essential program.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Consider reaching out to the following:
- SFUSD Superintendent Su: mariasu@sfusd.edu
- SFUSD Board of Education: boardoffice@sfusd.edu
- Mayor Lurie: daniel.lurie@sfgov.org
- Director of SF Office of Transgender Initiatives Honey Mahogany: honey.mahogany@sfgov.org
- State Superintendent Thurmond (916-319-0800)
- SF Human Rights Commission: HRC.Info@sfgov.org
- KALW: news@kalw.org
- KQED – select ‘news’: https://kqed-helpcenter.kqed.org/s/contactsupport
- SF Chronicle: https://www.sfchronicle.com/newsroom_contacts/
- SF Examiner: https://www.sfexaminer.com/site/about.html
- SF Gate: https://www.sfgate.com/home/article/sfgate-staff-15734829.php
- Erin in the Morning
- SF Standard: tips@sfstandard.com
- Michelle Meow: http://producer@michellemeow.com
- Mission Local: tips@missionlocal.com
- Evan Urquhart/Assigned Media: transspyglass@gmail.com
Better yet, speak-out at the BoE meeting Tuesday May 13th Public comment between 6:00–8:00, virtual or in person!
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
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