School board elections and meetings have become increasingly contentious in recent years. What were once considered nonpartisan elected seats are riddled with political agendas.
Sacramento County’s school boards have not been untouched by conversations on book banning, gender notification policies, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
Amid the fervor, Noel Mora, a trustee for Natomas Unified, and Michael Vargas, a trustee for Elk Grove Unified, are the first openly LGBTQ+ school board members in their respective districts and the only two LGBTQ+ trustees seated on the school board dais in the county. Both were elected in 2022.
At the end of last month, they were awarded the 2024 Sacramento Equality Award for their work in local education from Equality California, an organization that champions LGBTQ+ rights and policy. Vargas and Mora’s work is being celebrated by the organization at a time when nearly 70% of teachers report that they don’t cover topics related to gender and sexuality as part of their curriculum, according to Pew research.
Vargas and Mora have both championed LGBTQ+ training for staff, inclusion in the school curriculum and created safe spaces for students on campus, while being subject to criticism from community members in the region.
Protecting and progressing policies for LGBTQ+ youth
In the two years since Vargas was elected as the trustee for the district, education on LGBTQ-related dialogue has taken center stage during public comment.
Elk Grove Unified Trustee Michael Vargas accepts an award at the Sacramento Equality awards on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.Ryan Greenleaf, courtesy of Equality California“We had a speaker who started reading from scripture and talking about how gay marriage was an abomination and I'm sitting there as a person who's in the same-sex marriage,” said Vargas. “That is harmful. It's hurtful. At the same time, I am up on that dais for a reason.”
PFlag Sacramento, an LGBTQ advocacy and support group, has been following the school board meetings, and Rowen Rayneharte, the organization's vice president, has been attending and speaking during public comment.
“I saw people pushing each other at a meeting before on both sides because there's high tension,” they said. “It's been going on for a year. These conversations started with the book banning and it's moved into pride proclamations and transgender day of visibility.”
The school district has seen concerted efforts for and against LGBTQ+ rights and has received national attention for opposition to a student-led drag performance at Pleasant Grove High School.
And this past month, Pleasant Grove Elementary School faced backlash from parents for not being notified about the school’s rainbow club called “You Be You,” also known as “UBU” – a lunchtime space for LGBTQ+ students from 3rd to 5th grade.
During the March 4th school board meeting, trustees heard from teachers, activists, parents and community members like Connie Brocker.
“I'm really concerned these rainbow clubs and the LGBTQ format is directed at third to fifth-grade students and the fact that these clubs are secretive, they're not letting parents know,” she said. “And we know that a lot of evil takes place in darkness.”
Rick Atkinson, a parent, felt that his child should not be taught things beyond math, reading and subjects affiliated with education.
“I extremely object to the clubs that they're having at schools,” he said. “I do not see how this is part of education. I expect you to ask me permission if you want to teach them anything else.”
Data shows that Validation of LGBTQ+ identities leads to positive life outcomes for youth and can save lives, reminded Rayneharte, and worries that the coded language being used by opposition masks homophobia and transphobia behind their asks.
“Suicide rates in trans and gender non-conforming youths also decrease when they have access to affirming spaces,” they said in support of rainbow clubs.
The school board, in light of these discussions, is contemplating improved communication with parents regarding lunchtime clubs on campus.
“The district acknowledges that communication could be an area where our policies could be improved,” he said. “But is committed to supporting LGBTQ students, families and also to supporting the existence of these clubs.”
This rainbow club at Pleasant Grove Elementary is just one of five in the district, and Vargas added, the board is protecting and progressing policies for LGBTQ+ youth.
At the same meeting, the board passed a resolution officially recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, designating March 31 as the day to observe and celebrate gender diversity.
It’s the consistent advocacy by community members like Vargas and Raynehart that has led to the implementation of inclusionary practices in the district, which can be onerous work, they said.
“I know it's taxing because I experience it,” said Rayneharte. They find the Transgender Day of Visibility momentous because “there are still not enough people that will show up for trans and non-binary people.”
Equality California Awards: Righting old wrongs
The journey of being an effective board member begins with getting elected, reminded Mora, as he tried to find his footing.
Natomas Unified Trustee Noel Mora accepts an award at the Sacramento Equality awards on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.Ryan Greenleaf, courtesy of Equality California“I definitely paid attention and I took notes,” he said of his first year as a Natomas Unified trustee. “I did all the trainings that were offered to get as proficient as I possibly could — I did well around 50 hours of training within the first year.”
He, along with other school board members, juggles this responsibility alongside their regular jobs and extensive board meetings, typically receiving a modest stipend of up to $800 per month.
As Mora gained confidence in his position, he actively promoted LGBTQ+ education within the district, a component he believed was lacking during his own time as a student in Natomas.
“I didn't come out as LGBT when I was in high school,” he confided. With his backing, students in Natomas are holding a conference with resources for LGBTQ+ youth — one of the first of its kind. “It’s very much a full circle moment … If I keep talking about it, I'll probably start crying.”
And being only one of two openly LGBTQ+ school board members in the region continues to be isolating, Mora said, but added that he finds support in trustee Vargas.
Vargas, who has been on the receiving end of hate speech in his district, told me that Mora is a partner with whom he can hold productive dialogue on how to progress LGBTQ+ policy in his district.
“It has been nice to have somebody who is in a similar position, who's also LGBT and recognizes a lot of the issues surrounding that,” Vargas told me. “You can have a more honest, straightforward conversation.”
Jorge Reyes Salinas, spokesperson for Equality California, underscores that Vargas and Mora are furthering civil rights, and is why they are the award recipients for this year.
"We understand the exhaustion that comes with this,” he said. “If you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you often have to prioritize your role as a school board member before you can openly express your own identity.”
Being honored was humbling, Vargas said: “Eighteen years ago, I was sitting in [Equality California’s] office as an intern, and here I am now, you know, serving in an elected role and being recognized by them.”
Mora’s mother pulled out one of his childhood pictures and reminded him that the child in the photo would have been proud of him receiving the award, said Mora: “I feel like I have some ability to ensure safety and a sense of belonging for LGBT people in our district.”
Vargas and Mora’s efforts – Transgender Day of Visibility and an LGBTQ+ resource fair – affirm that representative and inclusive school boards create more equitable spaces for their students on campus, and can change their life outcomes.
Srishti Prabha is an education reporter and Report For America corps member in collaboration with CapRadio and The Sacramento Observer. Their focus is K-12 education in Sacramento’s Black communities.
