Our Story |
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Founder of APT, Renee Ho, is a mother of a young transgender child. She intimately knows the struggles of transgender students and is also a teacher who first-hand knows the importance of early intervention education in schools. Without a strong foundation of a supportive, gender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive school environment it is challenging to move forward as a school community. School staff need to be taught how to create an gender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive school. Even with the most open minded and non-judgmental teachers and staff there is a gap and lack of education to be able to teach transgender and non-binary students. That lack of education can and does contribute to the alarming suicide rates. According to a 2018 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
—About 30 percent of transgender female teens have attempted suicide.
—41.8 percent of non-binary youth have attempted suicide.
—More than half of transgender male teens have attempted suicide.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are two to three times more likely to be bullied as non-LGBTQ peers, are more likely to miss school—impacting graduation rates.
With this knowledge, Renee was moved to create, Amor Para Todos (Love For All). The APT mission and vision are:
—About 30 percent of transgender female teens have attempted suicide.
—41.8 percent of non-binary youth have attempted suicide.
—More than half of transgender male teens have attempted suicide.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are two to three times more likely to be bullied as non-LGBTQ peers, are more likely to miss school—impacting graduation rates.
With this knowledge, Renee was moved to create, Amor Para Todos (Love For All). The APT mission and vision are:
Mission: to innovate schools and communities to be more gender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive.
Vision: that all students, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, feel safe and comfortable at school and in their communities to be their true authentic selves and to express themselves freely, and are supported and treated with respect by peers, administrators, teachers, staff, and community members.
We believe when students can be their true authentic selves in a safe and respectful environment that then, the extremely high suicide statistics within the LGBTQIA+ community can begin to decline. We are working to combat these suicide statistics.
Vision: that all students, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, feel safe and comfortable at school and in their communities to be their true authentic selves and to express themselves freely, and are supported and treated with respect by peers, administrators, teachers, staff, and community members.
We believe when students can be their true authentic selves in a safe and respectful environment that then, the extremely high suicide statistics within the LGBTQIA+ community can begin to decline. We are working to combat these suicide statistics.
With the support of the superintendent, Amor Para Todos will serve to make the Old Adobe Union School District (OAUSD) a model district in Northern California to lead this important movement to model, educate and advocate for the elementary school LGBTQIA+ student population— and hopes to influence school reform in their community, state, nationwide and beyond. See our Projects page for more information on our current projects and goals.
Join us as we work for innovative elementary school reform and you will be a part of saving lives.
With gratitude,
APT members
Join us as we work for innovative elementary school reform and you will be a part of saving lives.
With gratitude,
APT members
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