I am a victim of sexual harassment and assault in the Redlands Unified School District, victimized specifically for my LGBTQIA+ identity. Sadly, I am far from alone; several students are subjected to this terrifying ugliness daily, with no recourse available. Our cries for help have fallen on deaf ears, with the school district system consistently failing to act or implement meaningful processes.

Sexual harassment and assault have chill-inducing statistics. A recent comprehensive study identified that roughly one in four teenage girls and one in ten teenage boys experience sexual assault, attracting unbearable torment and psychological distress (Kann et al., 2018). Furthermore, for LGBTQIA+ youths, harassment occurs even more frequently — they are three times more likely to experience a sexual assault than non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts (Human Rights Campaign, 2018).

The Redlands Unified School District's persistent lack of action on these grave injustices is intolerable. Schools are intended to be safe, nurturing environments for learning and growth, not places where students live in fear of assault and harassment.

Let's demand that Redlands Unified School District acknowledge the pain and trauma of its students. Let's insist on immediate policy changes, ensuring clear, robust processes for handling sexual harassment and assault are implemented. Together, we can energize systemic alterations and make our school a safe place to learn and grow. It's time for truth, change, and justice. Please sign this petition now.