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River City athlete Brooke White honored for allyship as board spotlights Pride Month programming
Summary
River City High senior Brooke White was recognized by the Washington Unified School District board for athletic accomplishments and public allyship during Pride Month. School staff and trustees praised her leadership and advisers described the Gender Health Club’s work supporting LGBTQ+ students.
River City High senior and track athlete Brooke White was recognized by the Washington Unified School District board at its June 12 meeting for winning two medals at the state track finals and for her public stance of allyship toward LGBTQ+ classmates.
"I just want to thank you all for the recognition and the opportunity to speak," White told the board, describing how meeting and supporting a fellow athlete affected her and inspired her to speak out against hate. She said the experience has motivated her to "speak up on behalf of athletes and the LGBTQ community" as she heads to UC San Diego on an athletic scholarship.
Board President Kirby Gonzalez and trustees praised White’s sportsmanship and leadership. Trustee Trusty Wong told the teenager, “Thank you for being braver than most adults,” and called White’s actions an example of the district’s values of inclusivity and respect.
The board also used the meeting to highlight Pride Month activities at River City High, inviting Gender Health Club adviser Andy Hook and events lead Chris Hanks to describe the club’s work. Hook said the club began in 2017 to make a safe space for trans and non‑gender‑conforming students and has grown to include advocacy, education and an annual drag show that raises money for local nonprofits. "We've been invited here to celebrate," Hook said, noting the club’s focus on student safety, bathroom access and outreach.
Mr. Hanks and Hook said proceeds from past drag shows went to the ACLU’s drag defense fund and to the Sacramento LGBT Center, and that the club organizes student participation in Sacramento Pride events. The board thanked club leaders and students and invited members to share photographs with trustees.
The recognition came during a broader slate of Pride Month programming at the June meeting that included video highlights of White’s state‑finals coverage and remarks encouraging district support for queer visibility and anti‑bias education.
Looking ahead, Hook suggested a pre‑Pride activity similar to other campus cultural events and invited students and trustees to continue collaboration on inclusive programming.
The board’s acknowledgment of White and the Gender Health Club reinforces the district’s stated commitment to creating safe, supportive learning environments for all students.
