#organizations/advocacy

Pikes Peak Safe at Schools Coalition

The Pikes Peak Safe at Schools Coalition is an advocacy group hosted within Inside Out Youth Services that advocates for the needs of LGBTQIA2+ students within local schools.

The coalition started around 1996 or 1997 (it was nearly 2 years old in 1999) under the name "Colorado Safe Schools Coalition." It was modeled after similar coalitions in Washington and Massachusetts. At the time, the coalition had a toll-free number that people could call to report incidents of harassment. [1]

In January, 1999 the coalition circulated fliers that read "Hate is wrong! Report it! Stop it!" through local schools. [1:1]

Inside Out Youth Services became a part of the coalition in the 90s, under the leadership of Regina Dipadova.[1:2]

Inside Out Youth Services, the organization's Activist Network, and The Pikes Peak Safe at Schools Coalition have contributed to multiple wins within local school districts, such as the recent repeal of District 49 Policy JBAA, a trans bathroom ban, on January 27, 2026.[2]

Questions

References

  1. Coalition tries to protect youths from anti-gay harassment (1999-02-01). PPLD Digital Collections, accessed 03/02/2026, https://digitalcollections.ppld.org/nodes/view/570110 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Personal Experience of Nico Wilkinson, who took part in the mobilization efforts through the IOYS Activist Network as IOYS Outreach Coordinator. Colorado Springs, CO, January 2026. ↩︎