At a Glance

PROJECT 10 AT A GLANCE

WHAT:
The first and only one of its kind, Project 10 is a Los Angeles Unified School District onsite support program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Its focus is dropout and suicide prevention, substance abuse education, student empowerment, reduction of verbal and physical abuse, and accurate HIV/AIDS information. The support groups are led by trained facilitators on the high school level, and provide a "safe zone" for discussions of issues surrounding the subject of sexual orientation. Project 10 is made up of seven elements:

A district resource center and program adviser;
Workshops to train administrators, counselors, teachers, and other staff members on the issues of institutional prejudice and the special needs of LGBT youth;
Development of onsite student support groups led by trained facilitators;
Assistance to school librarians in developing fiction and nonfiction materials on LGBT subjects;
Assist schools to be in compliance with nondiscrimination policies, Title IX sexual harassment provisions, and the Equal Access Act regarding the formation of Gay-Straight Alliances;
Advocacy for LGBT student rights through task forces, parent groups, and community outreach programs; and
Networking with community agencies, parents, educational organizations, and teacher unions.

WHO:
Project 10 is for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender adolescents and their allies, and children with LGBT family members.

WHY:
Dr. Virginia Uribe, a former Fairfax High School teacher, founded Project 10 in 1984 in response to the unmet needs of lesbian and gay students in the public educational system.

WHERE:
A Project 10 office is housed within the Student Health and Human Services Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District.