Pride Month: 50th Anniversary of LGBTQ+ Pride March and LGBTQ+ Resources

This month is the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ+ Pride march. According to the Library of Congress, "The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970 on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising," and that "This, the very first U.S. Gay Pride Week and March, was meant to give the community a chance to gather together to, '...commemorate the Christopher Street Uprisings of last summer in which thousands of homosexuals went to the streets to demonstrate against centuries of abuse....from government hostility to employment and housing discrimination, Mafia control of Gay bars, and anti-Homosexual laws.'"

In honor of Pride Month and to help ensure health and safety, below we have provided a list of a few LGBTQ+ resources that pertain to K-12 schools and institutions of higher education and the youths they serve.

Earlier this year, the Illinois State Board of Education released non-regulatory guidance on " Supporting Transgender, Nonbinary and Gender Nonconforming Students ." This document provides information on common definitions and language; discrimination, harassment, and bullying; gender support models; names, pronouns, and school records; use of facilities; dress codes; sports, clubs, and events; curriculum and teaching; and more.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has created an LGBTQ Pride Month page , which includes resources on trauma, abuse, creating safe places, building trust and acceptance, and more. According to the NCTSN, "In 2015, it was reported that out of 10,528 middle and high school students surveyed 85.2% LGBTQ students experienced verbal harassment at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, 57.6% felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 31.8% skipped a day of school in the past month because of safety concerns."

In response to recent events, The Trevor Project (which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth) has released information on  Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health . This resource discusses some common feelings youth may be experiencing right now, provides information on taking care of oneself, and urges support for Black LGBTQ+ Youth. The Trevor Project also has other Resources and Education opportunities available.

The CDC's LGBT Youth Resources page links to a variety of resources for LGBTQ+ youth, educators and school administrators, and parents, guardians, and family members.

The American Psychological Association also has a LGBT Youth Resources page , which provides resources including best practices and fact sheets, and information on the Resolution on Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Children and Adolescents in Schools and the Promoting Resiliency for Gender Diverse and Sexual Minority Students in Schools resource series.

IHSA Return to Play Guidelines and IDPH Swimming Facility Guidance

As we move into Summer, the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued guidelines for swimming facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The IDPH Swimming Facility Guidance provides information for IDPH licensed swimming facilities for Stage 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan.

Additionally, the Illinois High School Association has released the IHSA Stage 1 of Return to Play Guidelines for voluntary strength and conditioning sessions.