every child means every child

Please share this advocacy opportunity far and wide!

For questions, or if you would like to get involved in coordinating events at our alternative legislative advocacy weekend via Zoom, please reach out to president@scptsa.org.

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Read SCPTSA’s response to WSPTSA’s October 3rd email to Seattle PTA Leaders.

On Monday, September 30th, at SCPTSA's General Membership Meeting, our members voted to boycott WSPTA's Legislative Assembly that is being held at an anti-LGBTQ venue, Seattle Pacific University.  

  • Our members are asking for a change in venue to online or to a hybrid event at a venue that does not support discrimination, and that supports disability accommodations. 

  • Our members are asking for a refund of any fees they have paid toward Legislative Assembly.

  • Our members are asking for WSPTA to release the full Diversity Equity and Inclusion audit that WSPTA contracted with AV Consulting for in 2022. 

Advocacy Opportunity!
This was a painful and difficult decision for our members to make, and many of our members expressed upset at missing out on advocacy opportunities. To that end, SCPTSA is actively working to hold an alternative event online, with interpretation that we are calling "Every child means EVERY child."  Please stay tuned for more details, but at this point, we have some really great classes being taught by partner organizations, 1 legislator has already committed to joining us and we are reaching out to more, and we are actively working to create networking and advocacy opportunities at no charge to attendees. We invite everyone who would like to advocate for children in WA to join and participate. All are welcome. This will be on zoom October 26–27.  

More about Seattle Pacific University
There has been a lot of news coverage over the last couple of years on SPU and their stance, but two articles you can learn more about the situation include: 

Seattle Met: The Schism at Seattle Pacific University
“After the Rinedahl suit, SPU made its Employee Lifestyle Expectations public and, even more recently, more straightforwardly anti-LGBTQ+, ditching any allusion to the Statement on Human Sexuality. Faculty and staff are expected to refrain from “sexual behavior that is inconsistent with the University’s understanding of Biblical standards, including cohabitation, extramarital sexual activity, and same-sex sexual activity.”

The Falcon: Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra cuts ties with SPU
“SYSO believes in supporting and uplifting all of our students, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” read the email. “We cannot be true to our values while sending our students to a campus that actively excludes LGBTQ+ people, nor can we in good conscience provide financial support for an institution that refuses to change its anti-LGBTQ+ policies despite repeated calls from your students, staff, faculty, and the community.”

If you would like to receive a refund for Legislative Assembly: Refund requests must be sent to support@wastatepta.org prior to 12:00pm Monday, October 21, 2024. No refunds will be offered after this point. See cancellation policy.

Join the Boycott
While SCPTSA's position is voted on by our members, it is our understanding that you can strengthen the message by having your own vote about whether to boycott legislative assembly. To join can simply not send anyone to WSPTA's Legislative Assembly OR for the strongest message, have a vote of your members.  

Motion: I move that [name of your PTA] boycott WSPTA's Legislative Assembly. We ask that WSPTA change the venue to online or to a hybrid event at a venue that does not support discrimination, and that supports disability accommodations, that WSPTA  refund of any fees we have paid toward Legislative Assembly, and that WSPTA release the full Diversity Equity and Inclusion audit that WSPTA contracted with AV Consulting for in 2022. 

Then you would need a member to second the motion, and you would then vote.  

Every child means EVERY child!