Pride at the Pier 🏳️🌈🤝⚧️ he/she/they/xe
@prideatthepier.bsky.social
Educating, Connecting, and Empowering LGBTQ+ folks in Orange County, California to engage in our local politics. #followtheprideflag
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🪡 “If there’s data that says otherwise, then so be it, we’ll follow the evidence. But until then, we protect those children, and in doing so, we protect all children.”
The board meeting adjourns to applause.
Thanks for following along!
The board meeting adjourns to applause.
Thanks for following along!
November 18, 2025 at 3:32 AM
🪡 “If there’s data that says otherwise, then so be it, we’ll follow the evidence. But until then, we protect those children, and in doing so, we protect all children.”
The board meeting adjourns to applause.
Thanks for following along!
The board meeting adjourns to applause.
Thanks for following along!
🪡 Board President Jonathan Stone speaks last, about how there’s a requirement for the district to protect both their students and the district itself.
“I want to know data. I keep hearing about danger… what danger?”
He references stats from the Williams Institute showing the harm trans kids face.
“I want to know data. I keep hearing about danger… what danger?”
He references stats from the Williams Institute showing the harm trans kids face.
November 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
🪡 Board President Jonathan Stone speaks last, about how there’s a requirement for the district to protect both their students and the district itself.
“I want to know data. I keep hearing about danger… what danger?”
He references stats from the Williams Institute showing the harm trans kids face.
“I want to know data. I keep hearing about danger… what danger?”
He references stats from the Williams Institute showing the harm trans kids face.
🪡 Damikolas looks straight at the young trans teenaged athlete who spoke and expressed her pride in them and how brave she believed said teenager was.
She expresses hope for progress.
She expresses hope for progress.
November 18, 2025 at 3:29 AM
🪡 Damikolas looks straight at the young trans teenaged athlete who spoke and expressed her pride in them and how brave she believed said teenager was.
She expresses hope for progress.
She expresses hope for progress.
🪡 Trustee Damikolas speaks next. She opens up about her enjoyment of Hispanic Heritage Month events, as the second person of color ever elected to the board.
She says thank you to everyone who spoke in favor of trans rights. “This was never about sports… it’s about marginalization”.
She says thank you to everyone who spoke in favor of trans rights. “This was never about sports… it’s about marginalization”.
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
🪡 Trustee Damikolas speaks next. She opens up about her enjoyment of Hispanic Heritage Month events, as the second person of color ever elected to the board.
She says thank you to everyone who spoke in favor of trans rights. “This was never about sports… it’s about marginalization”.
She says thank you to everyone who spoke in favor of trans rights. “This was never about sports… it’s about marginalization”.
🪡 Trustee Abelove speaks next. He expresses looking forward to the legal review, and being sure that students aren’t coming to school facing food insecurity or bullying, or “being swept away by people in masks”.
He voted yes on the legal review, but it seems he’s more interested in due diligence.
He voted yes on the legal review, but it seems he’s more interested in due diligence.
November 18, 2025 at 3:25 AM
🪡 Trustee Abelove speaks next. He expresses looking forward to the legal review, and being sure that students aren’t coming to school facing food insecurity or bullying, or “being swept away by people in masks”.
He voted yes on the legal review, but it seems he’s more interested in due diligence.
He voted yes on the legal review, but it seems he’s more interested in due diligence.
🪡 “I’m happy that we had this discussion,” she says. “My daughter is a female athlete… I hope we can move forward and have a thorough review that protects all students. All students deserve fairness.”
The dog whistles aren’t quiet.
The dog whistles aren’t quiet.
November 18, 2025 at 3:24 AM
🪡 “I’m happy that we had this discussion,” she says. “My daughter is a female athlete… I hope we can move forward and have a thorough review that protects all students. All students deserve fairness.”
The dog whistles aren’t quiet.
The dog whistles aren’t quiet.
🪡 Trustee Copeland speaks next. “People know the history of the resolution, and to have more opportunities for civil discourse will enlighten a lot of us”.
“People have different opinions and that’s what makes the world go ‘round. That’s what makes a democracy”.
Transphobia isn’t an opinion.
“People have different opinions and that’s what makes the world go ‘round. That’s what makes a democracy”.
Transphobia isn’t an opinion.
November 18, 2025 at 3:22 AM
🪡 Trustee Copeland speaks next. “People know the history of the resolution, and to have more opportunities for civil discourse will enlighten a lot of us”.
“People have different opinions and that’s what makes the world go ‘round. That’s what makes a democracy”.
Transphobia isn’t an opinion.
“People have different opinions and that’s what makes the world go ‘round. That’s what makes a democracy”.
Transphobia isn’t an opinion.
🪡 We now go to board member comments for the end of the meeting.
Trustee Davis praises the student board members for staying for the whole meeting. He’s the longest standing board member, and you can tell - he’s totally unphased.
Trustee Davis praises the student board members for staying for the whole meeting. He’s the longest standing board member, and you can tell - he’s totally unphased.
November 18, 2025 at 3:20 AM
🪡 We now go to board member comments for the end of the meeting.
Trustee Davis praises the student board members for staying for the whole meeting. He’s the longest standing board member, and you can tell - he’s totally unphased.
Trustee Davis praises the student board members for staying for the whole meeting. He’s the longest standing board member, and you can tell - he’s totally unphased.
🪡 Copeland goes on to say she’s sorry that trans athletes get bullied. “No matter who, or, or what….”
There’s no further comment from other trustees. The item will go for further review - this is a procedural advancement but not a yes in general.
Trustee Davis obtains.
Trustee Damikolas votes no.
There’s no further comment from other trustees. The item will go for further review - this is a procedural advancement but not a yes in general.
Trustee Davis obtains.
Trustee Damikolas votes no.
November 18, 2025 at 3:16 AM
🪡 Copeland goes on to say she’s sorry that trans athletes get bullied. “No matter who, or, or what….”
There’s no further comment from other trustees. The item will go for further review - this is a procedural advancement but not a yes in general.
Trustee Davis obtains.
Trustee Damikolas votes no.
There’s no further comment from other trustees. The item will go for further review - this is a procedural advancement but not a yes in general.
Trustee Davis obtains.
Trustee Damikolas votes no.
🪡 We’ve reached the agenda item in question.
Trustee Copeland moves to forward the item to staff for legal review.
She gets a second to move to review from Trustee Abelove.
Trustee Copeland moves to forward the item to staff for legal review.
She gets a second to move to review from Trustee Abelove.
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 AM
🪡 We’ve reached the agenda item in question.
Trustee Copeland moves to forward the item to staff for legal review.
She gets a second to move to review from Trustee Abelove.
Trustee Copeland moves to forward the item to staff for legal review.
She gets a second to move to review from Trustee Abelove.
🪡 Public comments have concluded. We will reach that agenda item soon.
We now quickly move through other standard agenda items, the normal business of a regular school board meeting.
We now quickly move through other standard agenda items, the normal business of a regular school board meeting.
November 18, 2025 at 3:11 AM
🪡 Public comments have concluded. We will reach that agenda item soon.
We now quickly move through other standard agenda items, the normal business of a regular school board meeting.
We now quickly move through other standard agenda items, the normal business of a regular school board meeting.
🪡 Amy Luna Capelle, who is with WAVE, speaks next.
“Transgender kids deserve to be included in every part of society. The marginalization of one endangers all of us…”
“I have three boys and I can’t imagine people coming to (their sports game) to cheer against them just for who they are”.
“Transgender kids deserve to be included in every part of society. The marginalization of one endangers all of us…”
“I have three boys and I can’t imagine people coming to (their sports game) to cheer against them just for who they are”.
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 AM
🪡 Amy Luna Capelle, who is with WAVE, speaks next.
“Transgender kids deserve to be included in every part of society. The marginalization of one endangers all of us…”
“I have three boys and I can’t imagine people coming to (their sports game) to cheer against them just for who they are”.
“Transgender kids deserve to be included in every part of society. The marginalization of one endangers all of us…”
“I have three boys and I can’t imagine people coming to (their sports game) to cheer against them just for who they are”.
🪡 Stephanie Wade, trans woman and chair of the OC Lavender Dems, references Trans Day of Remembrance again.
She also points out how there’s never been a trans recipient of an NCAA scholarship, and goes on to reference suicide rates.
“This is a terrible solution to a problem that doesn’t exist”.
She also points out how there’s never been a trans recipient of an NCAA scholarship, and goes on to reference suicide rates.
“This is a terrible solution to a problem that doesn’t exist”.
November 18, 2025 at 3:08 AM
🪡 Stephanie Wade, trans woman and chair of the OC Lavender Dems, references Trans Day of Remembrance again.
She also points out how there’s never been a trans recipient of an NCAA scholarship, and goes on to reference suicide rates.
“This is a terrible solution to a problem that doesn’t exist”.
She also points out how there’s never been a trans recipient of an NCAA scholarship, and goes on to reference suicide rates.
“This is a terrible solution to a problem that doesn’t exist”.
🪡 It seems, at this point in public comments, that the anti-trans crowd is heavily outweighed.
A Gen X white man goes up to speak, saying “women are being marginalized by not having space…. There’s a biological & psychological danger”
Across the US, there’s less than 50 high school trans athletes.
A Gen X white man goes up to speak, saying “women are being marginalized by not having space…. There’s a biological & psychological danger”
Across the US, there’s less than 50 high school trans athletes.
November 18, 2025 at 3:05 AM
🪡 It seems, at this point in public comments, that the anti-trans crowd is heavily outweighed.
A Gen X white man goes up to speak, saying “women are being marginalized by not having space…. There’s a biological & psychological danger”
Across the US, there’s less than 50 high school trans athletes.
A Gen X white man goes up to speak, saying “women are being marginalized by not having space…. There’s a biological & psychological danger”
Across the US, there’s less than 50 high school trans athletes.
🪡 Stephanie Comacho Van Dyke from the OC LGBTQ center speaks, referencing the many young trans folks the center has served, and how representation matters.
“As we approach Trans Day of Remembrance …. Exclusionary policies are not the way. They’re not even in alignment with the law.”
“As we approach Trans Day of Remembrance …. Exclusionary policies are not the way. They’re not even in alignment with the law.”
November 18, 2025 at 3:03 AM
🪡 Stephanie Comacho Van Dyke from the OC LGBTQ center speaks, referencing the many young trans folks the center has served, and how representation matters.
“As we approach Trans Day of Remembrance …. Exclusionary policies are not the way. They’re not even in alignment with the law.”
“As we approach Trans Day of Remembrance …. Exclusionary policies are not the way. They’re not even in alignment with the law.”
🪡 There’s a decent number of older white women making public comment supporting the rights of trans students.
Allyship looks like a lot of things, and this is definitely one of them.
One woman says trans students should be allowed to participate “without being marginalized or called a misfit”.
Allyship looks like a lot of things, and this is definitely one of them.
One woman says trans students should be allowed to participate “without being marginalized or called a misfit”.
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 AM
🪡 There’s a decent number of older white women making public comment supporting the rights of trans students.
Allyship looks like a lot of things, and this is definitely one of them.
One woman says trans students should be allowed to participate “without being marginalized or called a misfit”.
Allyship looks like a lot of things, and this is definitely one of them.
One woman says trans students should be allowed to participate “without being marginalized or called a misfit”.
🪡 Another woman: “This isn’t a real problem, and it’s not being requested by constituents. It’s being orchestrated by national orgs. This is a bogus resolution”.
Another woman, a self described retired nurse and grandmother, speaks up for “the inalienable right for every child to be themselves”.
Another woman, a self described retired nurse and grandmother, speaks up for “the inalienable right for every child to be themselves”.
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
🪡 Another woman: “This isn’t a real problem, and it’s not being requested by constituents. It’s being orchestrated by national orgs. This is a bogus resolution”.
Another woman, a self described retired nurse and grandmother, speaks up for “the inalienable right for every child to be themselves”.
Another woman, a self described retired nurse and grandmother, speaks up for “the inalienable right for every child to be themselves”.
🪡 A TUSD goes up to speak, opposing the agenda item. “I don’t want bullying in my kids’ schools.”
A woman in a pink cowboy hat follows him, and claims she had a sports award stolen from her by “a trans”.
“Let the trans - because there’s drugs they’re taking, and drugs are illegal”.
A woman in a pink cowboy hat follows him, and claims she had a sports award stolen from her by “a trans”.
“Let the trans - because there’s drugs they’re taking, and drugs are illegal”.
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
🪡 A TUSD goes up to speak, opposing the agenda item. “I don’t want bullying in my kids’ schools.”
A woman in a pink cowboy hat follows him, and claims she had a sports award stolen from her by “a trans”.
“Let the trans - because there’s drugs they’re taking, and drugs are illegal”.
A woman in a pink cowboy hat follows him, and claims she had a sports award stolen from her by “a trans”.
“Let the trans - because there’s drugs they’re taking, and drugs are illegal”.
🪡 Our representative Kanan spoke next, referencing the hate account run by Amy Connelly. “I’m trans myself”, he says. “I’m used to the hate these folks spew. But the trans students in your district - none of whom are athletes - aren’t used to it. And they’ll hear how you vote tonight”.
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM
🪡 Our representative Kanan spoke next, referencing the hate account run by Amy Connelly. “I’m trans myself”, he says. “I’m used to the hate these folks spew. But the trans students in your district - none of whom are athletes - aren’t used to it. And they’ll hear how you vote tonight”.
🪡 Abi’s mother goes up to speak next. She points out what a waste of time and money this is.
“My child has had grown adults boo her… put her picture up on the internet”
“It’s been excruciating to watch my child experience this pain”.
“My child has had grown adults boo her… put her picture up on the internet”
“It’s been excruciating to watch my child experience this pain”.
November 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM
🪡 Abi’s mother goes up to speak next. She points out what a waste of time and money this is.
“My child has had grown adults boo her… put her picture up on the internet”
“It’s been excruciating to watch my child experience this pain”.
“My child has had grown adults boo her… put her picture up on the internet”
“It’s been excruciating to watch my child experience this pain”.
🪡 “Very few people in this room know what that feels like”, she says. Heads are nodding.
She goes on to speak about the ongoing court cases about trans athletes. She finishes to applause.
She goes on to speak about the ongoing court cases about trans athletes. She finishes to applause.
November 18, 2025 at 2:48 AM
🪡 “Very few people in this room know what that feels like”, she says. Heads are nodding.
She goes on to speak about the ongoing court cases about trans athletes. She finishes to applause.
She goes on to speak about the ongoing court cases about trans athletes. She finishes to applause.
🪡 Abi, a trans athlete herself, steps up to speak. She highlights that she’s one of a tiny, tiny percentage of California athletes that are trans.
“This kind of policy cost my own district over a million dollars in legal fees.”
She speaks about the bullying campaign launched in her own district.
“This kind of policy cost my own district over a million dollars in legal fees.”
She speaks about the bullying campaign launched in her own district.
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 AM
🪡 Abi, a trans athlete herself, steps up to speak. She highlights that she’s one of a tiny, tiny percentage of California athletes that are trans.
“This kind of policy cost my own district over a million dollars in legal fees.”
She speaks about the bullying campaign launched in her own district.
“This kind of policy cost my own district over a million dollars in legal fees.”
She speaks about the bullying campaign launched in her own district.
🪡 Sam Penrod, with Lavender Dems, steps up to speak. It’s hard to hear him, but he speaks about the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) standards that have allowed trans athletes to participate with their peers for years.
Small Pride flags flutter in the crowd.
Small Pride flags flutter in the crowd.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
🪡 Sam Penrod, with Lavender Dems, steps up to speak. It’s hard to hear him, but he speaks about the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) standards that have allowed trans athletes to participate with their peers for years.
Small Pride flags flutter in the crowd.
Small Pride flags flutter in the crowd.
🪡 Another speaker steps up, acknowledging that she’s removed her students from the district but she’s still here to speak against “males and females playing against each other”.
“I just pray that you guys will do what is right.”
A young white man in the crowd claps very loudly at this.
“I just pray that you guys will do what is right.”
A young white man in the crowd claps very loudly at this.
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
🪡 Another speaker steps up, acknowledging that she’s removed her students from the district but she’s still here to speak against “males and females playing against each other”.
“I just pray that you guys will do what is right.”
A young white man in the crowd claps very loudly at this.
“I just pray that you guys will do what is right.”
A young white man in the crowd claps very loudly at this.
🪡 Non agendized items now.
Amy Connelly, author of the item, steps up to mild applause.
“This resolution is not about emotions or feelings. This resolution is about fairness and safety”.
It’s a wild statement considering what we’ve seen on the RecallTUSD page.
Amy Connelly, author of the item, steps up to mild applause.
“This resolution is not about emotions or feelings. This resolution is about fairness and safety”.
It’s a wild statement considering what we’ve seen on the RecallTUSD page.
November 18, 2025 at 2:42 AM
🪡 Non agendized items now.
Amy Connelly, author of the item, steps up to mild applause.
“This resolution is not about emotions or feelings. This resolution is about fairness and safety”.
It’s a wild statement considering what we’ve seen on the RecallTUSD page.
Amy Connelly, author of the item, steps up to mild applause.
“This resolution is not about emotions or feelings. This resolution is about fairness and safety”.
It’s a wild statement considering what we’ve seen on the RecallTUSD page.