The Action Coalition for Transgender & Gender-Expansive Students (ACTS) supports grassroots advocacy for the physical, intellectual, and emotional health of students within the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) who identify as anything other than cisgender. Informed directly by students’ experiences, we establish actionable goals and take concrete steps to improve school climate at both the local and district levels. By working to create safe, welcoming, and equitable access to all school programming and facilities, our mission is to ensure that students of every gender identity truly can thrive at OUSD.
In an effort to connect people, share information, and build organizing power on behalf of these students, ACTS (formerly known as T/GES) was founded in January, 2023 by two parents of students at Oakland Technical High School. We operate in conversation with, but independently of, district- and school-specific LGBTQ+ programming.
Goals / Vision
- Amplify and follow the lead of trans and gender-expansive student voices
- Promote proactive support for our students by working to educate OUSD teachers, staff, and decision-makers about the need for gender-supportive environments
- Identify and address unnecessary barriers to educational equity
- Open channels of communication (to uplift concerns, expedite wider change, and minimize harm)
- Build networks of support and organizing power (among students, staff, families, allies)
- Drive policy decisions that impact our trans and gender-expansive students
Please note that given our focus on the unique and often unrecognized needs of those with marginalized gender identities, this group is not designed to serve families of cisgender students, even if they are gay, lesbian, or otherwise non-heterosexual.