Community Speaks Out Against Use of Crisis Lines, LGBT Chatrooms in Santa Ana Schools

Community Speaks Out Against Use of Crisis Lines, LGBT Chatrooms in Santa Ana Schools
Parents and community members speak out at an Orange County Board of Education meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2022. Micaela Ricaforte/The Epoch Times
Micaela Ricaforte
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Parents and community members spoke out against the Santa Ana Unified School District’s referring students to the National Suicide Hotline, which they say surveys children about their gender and sexualitywithout parental consent, and The Trevor Project, a national LGBT organization promoting chatrooms with what some say are controversial topics for young people.

During a Nov. 2 Orange County Board of Education meeting, some, including parents, teachers, and members of a group called “Gays Against Groomers,” asked trustees to investigate the district’s use of the hotline and the organization and to remove posters promoting both from school classrooms and hallways.

The Trevor Project provides 24-hour access to counselors and other services for LGBT youth and features “TrevorSpace,” an online forum with hundreds of chatrooms on different topics.

Some speaking to the trustees brought large signs depicting some of the chatrooms—including those with names like “Guilt, Pain, Secrets, Solace,” “Witchcraft Club,” “Polyamory Club,” “Furries United,” and “Bi+ and Mspec Folks.”

Parents and community members bring signs displaying TrevorSpace youth chatrooms with controversial topics at an Orange County Board of Education meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2022. (Micaela Ricaforte/The Epoch Times)
Parents and community members bring signs displaying TrevorSpace youth chatrooms with controversial topics at an Orange County Board of Education meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2022. Micaela Ricaforte/The Epoch Times
Parents and community members bring signs displaying TrevorSpace youth chatrooms with controversial topics at an Orange County Board of Education meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2022. (Micaela Ricaforte/The Epoch Times)
Parents and community members bring signs displaying TrevorSpace youth chatrooms with controversial topics at an Orange County Board of Education meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2022. Micaela Ricaforte/The Epoch Times

“The public needs to be aware of what our children have access to in the guise of inclusivity and diversity,” one parent said during public comment.

Others expressed concern that the chatrooms might be a “hunting ground” for sexual predators posing as children online.

Brenda Lebsack, a teacher in the district, told trustees she tested the chatrooms and the suicide hotline, posing as a student.

On TrevorSpace—which is aimed at ages 13 to 24—Lebsack said she signed up for an account by merely entering a false date of birth.

As for the suicide hotline, Lebsack said it surveyed her about her gender and sexuality, requiring her to choose from a list of 11 different genders or to write in however she identified if not on the list.

It also asks for callers’ sexual orientation, whether they are asexual, bisexual or pansexual, gay or lesbian, heterosexual or straight, questioning or unsure, prefer not to answer, or “other – write in.”

Another public speaker suggested that the hotline’s surveying of children without parental consent violates California’s Education Code 51513.

“No test, questionnaire, survey, or examination containing any questions about the pupil’s personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality, and religion … shall be administered to any pupil in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, unless the parent or guardian of the pupil is notified in writing,” the code states.

"In God We Trust" hangs in the meeting area of the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
"In God We Trust" hangs in the meeting area of the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2020. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Trustee Jorge Valdes, whose district covers Santa Ana, told The Epoch Times he was “shocked” to learn of these materials in schools.

Resources and posters promoting the suicide hotline and TrevorSpace are often used by teachers and school staff as classroom resources and are not vetted through the county education board, Valdes said.

The trustee said he is planning to meet with Santa Ana Unified Superintendent Jerry Almendarez about removing the materials from schools.

Those concerned about the materials also attended a Santa Ana Unified school board meeting earlier this month, asking trustees to for an investigation and to remove the posters from campuses.
Members of the public make comments to Santa Ana Unified School District trustees at a board meeting in Santa Ana, Calif., on Oct. 11, 2022. (Screenshot via Santa Ana Unified School District)
Members of the public make comments to Santa Ana Unified School District trustees at a board meeting in Santa Ana, Calif., on Oct. 11, 2022. Screenshot via Santa Ana Unified School District

During the meeting, board member John Palacio suggested the board look into the complaints, while other trustees—such as Carolyn Torres and Rigo Rodriguez—criticized the concerns as “dehumanizing” toward the LGBT community.

Almendarez did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.

Micaela Ricaforte
Micaela Ricaforte
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Micaela Ricaforte covers education in Southern California for The Epoch Times. In addition to writing, she is passionate about music, books, and coffee.
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