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The Livermore school board approved a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month during their regular meeting last week amid dissent from community members during public comment.
Given the board’s approval via 4-1 tally — with Trustee Deena Kaplanis casting the sole dissenting vote — the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District again joins agencies nationwide recognizing LGBTQ+ folks for their contributions to society.
The declaration of values came as a resolution before the board May 12 on its consent calendar, which is composed of items typically considered routine and decided with a single vote.
“It is not connected to curriculum changes, funding decisions, or instructional mandates. It’s simply a statement of support and affirmation that all students deserve to feel safe, welcomed, and valued in our schools,” Trustee Emily Prusso said.
According to the resolution, “we are committed to cultivating a strong sense of belonging among all students in our schools and extending that sense of belonging to families, staff, and community members so that everyone is welcomed equally to our campuses.”
The board has passed similar resolutions since 2019, Prusso said during the meeting.
However, the majority of about 15 public commenters expressed opposition to the district honoring Pride Month.
“This so-called Pride resolution is unnecessary. It is divisive and not inclusive,” commenter Debbie Gibson said during the meeting. “There are many students and families that do not feel respected or supported or have a sense of belonging as this resolution states, because it does not represent their moral values.”
The U.S. no longer recognizes June as Pride Month, she added.
June is currently recognized as Title IX month, “commemorating women and celebrating their struggle for, and achievement of, equal educational opportunity,” according to the U.S. Department of Education website.
Cathryn Villasenor also expressed opposition to the resolution.
“Pride ideology is a religion against Christ,” Villasenor said. “Why not let the parents teach their values in their homes?”
Condemnation directed at the resolution could also be found in public letters sent to the board.
“I do NOT want my grandson going to schools that will teach LGT plus Q trash!” Livermore resident Laurie Huckins wrote to trustees.
Expressing support for the resolution and calling out the hostile comments was Lainie Pascall, education chair of LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG Tri-Valley.
“This boardroom is not a safe place for our queer community,” Pascall said. “The written public comments received by this board are evidence of that.”
“Those who oppose this resolution don’t see us as whole people. They see one part of our identity,” Pascall added. “They can’t just see that I’m an exhausted parent with a teenager who has a mortgage and a job, who took time out of my schedule to come and advocate for families like mine, who are also exhausted and tired of hearing this rhetoric.”
After the public comment period, Prusso thanked the individuals who spoke.
“I appreciate everyone coming from both sides and speaking to this because I have an open heart and open mind, and I feel like I learned something from every person who spoke today,” Prusso said.
“As a board, we regularly adopt resolutions recognizing different groups, causes, and members of our community,” Prusso added.
She pointed to the board vote same-day to recognize May as Heroes Month to honor individuals in public safety, healthcare, emergency response and military service for their contributions and their impact on LVJUSD students and the wider community.
No public comments were given on the declaration of Heroes Month.
Regarding Pride Month, all trustees expressed their support for its observance except Kaplanis.
“I value all children equally,” Kaplanis said. “This resolution, though, promotes an ideology that has already been weaponized against children in our own district.”
She referenced a case of a Granada High School student allegedly being suspended “simply because he referred to a biologically female classmate as someone who used to be a girl.”
“I will not vote to advance an agenda that pushes children from telling the truth,” she added.
Wrapping up the board’s discussion, Board President Steven Drouin referenced a survey of LGBTQ+ youth that demonstrated the importance of an accepting environment in lowering the rate of attempted suicides in this community.
One in 10 LGBTQ+ individuals, ages 13 to 24, attempted suicide in the past year, according to a 2025 study by the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention nonprofit organization for this community. The nationwide study involved surveying over 16,000 LGBTQ+ youth.
“LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than a third of the rate of those who reported living in very unaccepting communities,” the study states.
“I will live in an accepting community and I will be voting in support of this item,” Drouin said.
For those experiencing crisis, counselors for confidential and free help are available any time at 1-866-488-7386 or through the Trevor Project website at www.thetrevorproject.org.
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