Celebrating 50 Years of Advocacy of the LGBTQ Community
SAN JOSE, CA - The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) will kick off the 2020-2021 school year with a landmark Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday, August 3, at 10:00 a.m. that will be broadcast on Facebook Live. The virtual Pride Flag Raising at the SCCOE’s Ridder Park office will air on the SCCOE’s Facebook Page and will mark the first time the SCCOE has raised the Pride Flag. The flag's permanent installation celebrates 50 years of the SCCOE's advocacy of the LGBTQ community and underscores its "Stronger Together" commitment.
“We are thrilled to celebrate diversity, as the SCCOE is committed to ensuring equity and inclusion for all young people,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. “As the office continues to support and celebrate our county’s communities, this flag is a symbol of our commitment to offer safe, positive environments for youth, staff and families of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.”
Claudia Rossi, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Education noted, “I strongly believe that it is our responsibility to protect our youth and to help them flourish. I applaud the County office of Education for their commitment to equality and work in support of LGBTQ students.”
Across the globe, the rainbow pride flag has come to represent the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people. While each individual color has a meaning, the rainbow flag is about the symbolism of the all-inclusive spectrum of the LGBTQ Community. The SCCOE Pride Flag Raising Ceremony will honor the LGBTQ youth and staff across Santa Clara County's 31 school districts. The Philadelphia flag, first hoisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 8, 2017, has been chosen to fly daily at the SCCOE. This version of the flag represents the expanded pride spectrum and acknowledges LGBTQ people of color.
Attending virtually will be the Santa Clara County Board of Education, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Dr. Ken Yeager, Executive Director, BAYMEC Community Foundation, and Manager of the Office LGBTQ Affairs, Maribel Martinez. The ceremony will also include a presentation from a San Jose High School youth.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.