LGBTQIA+ Community
At Long Reach High School, we work hard to support and enrich our LGBTQIA+ students and staff. We are committed to providing an educational and social environment that affirms and promotes an inclusive, equitable space which values diversity and recognizes intersectionality.
HCPSS has comprehensive supports in place across all of our schools:
LRHS Rainbow Representative: Rainbow Representatives ensure that schools are allies and advocates for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families. The school Rainbow Representative attends quarterly meetings; receives and disseminates information regarding LGBTQIA+ topics of interest to the school and school community as appropriate, and provides instructional support for educators. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Long Reach High School Rainbow Representative, Alex Borleis at alex_borleis@hcpss.org.
GSA: GSA is a club at LRHS in which LGBTQ youth and their allies have a place to socialize without being judged, as well as talk about what is happening in the news in regards to the LGBTQ community. They enjoy watching movies, reading articles, talking about recent happenings, and socializing. Just show up to meetings, no requirements - come when you can! The GSA Club meets on every other Wednesday from 2:15-3:00pm, Location: RM 206. Advisors for GSA: Alex Borleis (alex_borleis@hcpss.org), Sara Skinner (sara_skinner@hcpss.org), and Rachel Mattos (rachel_mattos@hcpss.org).
Unmatched Athlete - Partnership Official: Unmatched Athlete is now an official partner with HCPSS. Just a reminder that they will be having a program at EarthTreks in Columbia on March 5th and March 19th. We will have a table at the event and will be looking for volunteers at the table as well as any folks who are interested in encouraging climbers. Please add your name to the spreadsheet (please note the two tabs at the bottom - one for each date) if you are interested and available to volunteer and to indicate your interest in what you’d be willing to work. See below for more details.
Saturday, March 5th 2022 (13-18 age group), 12pm-5pm (table set up at 11am). Volunteers needed to staff the HCPSS Pride table, as well as serve as morale supporters. IF you have climbing experience, you can work with the youth to help them with climbing.
Saturday, March 19th 2022 (5-12 age group), 12pm-5pm (table set up at 11am). Volunteers needed to staff the HCPSS Pride table, as well as serve as morale supporters. IF you have climbing experience, you can work with the youth to help them with climbing.
HoCo FilmFest - CARY Category: The HoCo FilmFest is gaining a new category this year thanks to CARY! This will be open to Middle and High School students THIS year, and the hope is that NEXT year it will be expanded to Elementary School students. The CARY sponsored portion of the FilmFest is centered around the theme of “Freedom to Read '' to highlight the impact of LGBTQIA+ literature (or lack of access to this literature) on the lives of students. Visual storytelling is a powerful tool to shine a light on our shared humanity as well as the rainbow spectrum of human experience. You are the FIRST to hear this information and more will be published to the HoCoFilmFest website later this week or next. Once it is published, feel free to share with middle and high school students (a flier will be forthcoming). https://hocofilmfest.weebly.com/
MOVIE NIGHT @Long Reach during HCPSS Pride Week
The Half of It directed by Alice Wu - PG-13
7:00pm @ Long Reach High School Auditorium. FREE - Register Here
A shy, straight-A Chinese-American student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both desire. They find themselves connecting and learn about the nature of love.
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As Far as You’ll Take Me By Phil Stamper |
Book |
YA, Contemporary, Romance |
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Cosmo Knights by Hannah Templer |
Webcomic |
Sci-Fi, Romance |
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The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis |
Book |
YA Contemporary Romance |
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Check Please! by Ngozi Ukazu |
Webcomic |
Coming of Age, Hockey/Sports Comic & Baking! |
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Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender |
Book |
Transgender Representation, Coming of Age |
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TV Netflix and Comics |
Sequel to Avatar the Last Airbender, Fantasy |
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Flamer by Mike Curato |
Graphic Novel |
YA Fiction |
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The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee |
Book |
YA Historical Fiction, Romance |
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How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi |
Book |
Muslim Representation, YA Fiction, Romance |
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How Not to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee |
Book |
YA Contemporary Fiction, Romance |
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I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver |
Book |
YA Contemporary Fiction, Romance |
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Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June |
Book |
YA Contemporary Fiction, Romance |
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Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo |
Book |
YA Historical Fiction, Romance |
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Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli |
Book |
YA Contemporary Fiction, Romance |
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Love, Simon (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli) |
YA Contemporary Romance, Coming of Age |
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TV Hulu and Disney+ |
Teen Romance, Drama, Comedy |
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Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian |
Book |
YA Historical Fiction, Romance |
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Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell |
Graphic Novel |
YA Contemporary Ficiton, Romance |
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All Boys Aren’t Blue by George Johnson |
Book |
Non-Fiction, Memoir |
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Cinderella is Dead by Kaylnn Byron |
Book |
YA Fantasy, Fairy-tale retelling |
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Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly |
Book |
Non-Binary/Queer Romance & Cooking Competition |
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Marvel’s Young Avengers by Allen Heinberg and Kieron Gillen |
Comic |
LGBTQ+ Representation in both the original run and current reboot |
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Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas |
Book |
Transgender Representation, Ghosts, Mystery, and Romance |
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TV Hulu or Amazon Prime and Comics |
Coming of Age, Horror, Supernatural, Action |
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TV Amazon Prime |
Drama, Suspense |
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Long Exposure by Mars Heyward |
Comic |
Sci-fi, Enemies to Lovers Trope |
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Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe |
Comic |
Memoir focusing on Gender and Gender Expression/Identity |
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Fine: A Comic About Gender by Rhea Ewing |
Comic |
Non-fiction, a set of interviews turned comics surrounding the question “what is gender?” |
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On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden |
Comic |
Sci-Fi, Drama |
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The Inheritance of Orquidea Divinia by Zoraida Cordova |
Book |
Latinix Representation, Mystery, Drama, Fantasy |
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TV CrunchyRoll and Books |
Fantasy, Action, Dystopian, Fairy Tale Inspired |
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The Kyoshi Novels by F.C. Yee |
Books |
Avatar the Last Airbender Universe |
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TV Netflix |
Supernatural, Horror, Comedy, Drama |