The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has sued the Lake County School Board because of its refusal to allow middle school student Bayli Silberstein to form a gay-straight alliance. [Click here for a May 4th update; the update includes information on how to help out in Lake County.] From an ACLU press release: “I’m really frustrated that we’ve reached this point, but we can’t wait any longer,” stated Silberstein, an 8th-grader at Carver Middle School. “The bullying at my … [Read more...]
Lake County School Board Member Questions 14-Year-Old Student’s Sexual Orientation
Posted on April 29, 2013
A member of Florida's Lake County School Board questioned the sexual orientation of a fourteen-year-old student in his district in an email sent last Friday. A 2012 message from federal Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The Lake County School Board should listen. The Board member's disturbing comment came in a written exchange with musician, blogger and LGBT-youth advocate Katy Bourne, who had sent an open letter to two members of the Lake County School Board criticizing their … [Read more...]
The Latest LGBT-Equality Legislation: Info & Links
Posted on April 26, 2013
As some readers are likely aware, members of Congress have recently introduced important legislation affecting the LGBT community. I hope to blog more in-depth about the legislation in the near future. In the meantime, I've added a page about federal legislation to the Resources section of this website. This new page, which I'll continue to expand, now includes basic information about the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and the Employment Non-Discrimination … [Read more...]
Joe Bell Set to Begin Epic Journey Across the U.S.
Posted on April 19, 2013
Joe Bell sets out tomorrow from La Grande, Oregon, on an ambitious journey: He will walk from Oregon to New York to raise awareness about bullying and to support anti-bullying programs. Joe will also share the story of his openly gay son Jadin, who died earlier this year. You can follow and support Joe's Walk for Change through the website of Faces for Change, an organization that supports anti-bullying efforts. Jadin Bell's family and friends formed the organization in Jadin's memory and … [Read more...]
In Their Own Words: Students Who Fought for the Right to Support LGBT Youth
Posted on April 19, 2013
Best wishes to students across the country and world as they observe the Day of Silence today. Among those participating is Lambda Legal client Maverick Couch. Last year, after Maverick's Ohio school prohibited him from wearing a t-shirt that said "Jesus Is Not a Homophobe,” Lambda Legal brought a free-speech suit on Maverick's behalf. Lambda Legal won the case when the school district and principal agreed to a court judgment affirming Maverick's right to wear the shirt on any day he … [Read more...]
Five Terrible Ways to Respond to Threats of a Day of Silence Walkout
Posted on April 11, 2013
The American Family Association (AFA) has urged parents to take action against the Day of Silence, including by keeping their children home from school on the day of the event (April 19) if the school doesn't meet certain demands. Click to learn more about the Day of Silence. Let's look at the demands, and how schools might respond. … [Read more...]
An Email Trail of Constitutional Violations in the Day of Silence Lawsuit
Posted on April 10, 2013
Earlier today, I reported on a partial court victory for Lambda Legal's client Amber Hatcher, an openly lesbian teenager whose school punished her last year for participating in the Day of Silence. As I explained, DeSoto County school officials had asked a court to dismiss Amber's claim that officials violated her First Amendment rights. The court refused. The First Amendment protects both the right to speak and the right not to speak, and it encompasses students' right to engage in … [Read more...]
Partial Victory for Student in Lambda Legal’s Day of Silence Lawsuit
Posted on April 10, 2013
Lambda Legal has won an important, partial victory for sixteen-year-old Amber Hatcher in a federal case involving the Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is an annual day-of-action when students across the country take a vow of silence for all or part of the school day to bring attention to the silencing effects of bullying faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Related Link: The Day of Silence is Almost Here As her legal complaint explains, Amber, an openly lesbian … [Read more...]
LGBT Youth News Roundup: April 4, 2013
Posted on April 4, 2013
Recent stories about and affecting LGBT youth and their allies: • Magic Johnson's son E.J. has come out and received the support of his family. “Cookie [Johnson's wife] and I love E.J. and support him in every way," Johnson said in a statement. "We’re very proud of him.” • In less inspiring father-son news, Politico reports that Congressman Matt Salmon’s gay son "has defended his father’s opposition to gay marriage, saying that it has nothing to do with his dad’s … [Read more...]
The Day of Silence is this April 19th!
Posted on April 3, 2013
The national Day of Silence is this month! On Friday, April 19, students across the country and world will take a vow of silence for all or part of the school day to recognize and bring attention to the silencing effects of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in school. Since its founding in 1996, the annual day of action has grown to be one of the largest and most successful student-led events to support safe schools for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender … [Read more...]
Did North Carolina Appointee Vote to Defy the Law on LGBT School Issues?
Posted on April 2, 2013
Did Buddy Collins, recently appointed to the North Carolina Board of Education, vote as a local school board member in 2009 to defy state law simply because of his personal objections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in schools? Several reports indicate that he did. Assuming Collins did in fact vote to defy state law based merely on personal hostility to LGBT students' rights, it suggests a troubling anti-equality radicalism that makes him even more unfit to serve on the … [Read more...]
Iowa Activists Disregard State’s Commitment to Equality in Campaign Against LGBTQ Conference
Posted on March 31, 2013
Anti-LGBT activists in Iowa have resorted to name-calling and extremist rhetoric in their attempt to stir up controversy over an upcoming safe-schools conference, referring to LGBTQ conference organizers as “self-proclaimed sodomites” and accusing them of “coming after” children with “evil propaganda.” The fear-mongering campaign, which targets the Eighth Annual Iowa Governor's Conference on LGBTQ Youth and its supporters, not only spreads misinformation and hateful messages; it … [Read more...]
SPLC: Mississippi Student Faced Severe Anti-LGBT Harassment at School
Posted on March 21, 2013
The Southern Poverty Law Center has sent a demand letter to the Moss Point School District in Mississippi on behalf of a young lesbian, Destin Holmes, who says she faced severe and pervasive harassment based on sexual orientation and gender expression while a student at the district's Magnolia Junior High School. Destin alleges harassment not only from her classmates, but from faculty and administrators as well. According to the SPLC's letter, the principal told Destin, "I don't want a dyke … [Read more...]
Hesperia Schools Respond Quickly to Allegations of Anti-LGBT Discrimination
Posted on March 20, 2013
Superintendent promises full investigation. The Hesperia Unified School District responded quickly to allegations of anti-LGBT discrimination, harassment and censorship at the district's Sultana High School. The American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP, representing student members of the high school's gay-straight alliance, made the allegations in a March 18 letter sent to district's Interim Superintendent David McLaughlin. Read yesterday's post about the … [Read more...]
Hesperia School Officials Need to Consider Quick, Decisive Action on LGBT Issues
Posted on March 19, 2013
Unless they act quickly and decisively, officials in yet another school district may face a lawsuit from LGBT youth and their allies. And if they're sued, the officials could easily lose. According to a letter sent yesterday to the interim superintendent of Hesperia Unified School District in California, the district faces potential legal action by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP on behalf of student members of a gay-straight … [Read more...]
LGBT Youth News Roundup: March 18, 2013
Posted on March 18, 2013
The latest LGBT news about and affecting youth: • An eleven-year-old from California has written to Chief Justice Roberts about the marriage cases pending before the Supreme Court. He talks about his letter in the video below. Earlier this month, we learned that a different eleven-year-old had sent a letter to all of the Justices about the marriage cases. Justice Sonia Sotomayor responded. • A new bill in California would allow students to use restroom and locker facilities, and to … [Read more...]
Too Young to Be Straight?
As it becomes more common for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their allies to form gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in middle schools, some adults have reacted with confusion, consternation, or outrage, insisting that middle school students are too young to know their sexual orientation or at least too young to disclose it. As discussed in an April post, for example, a member of Florida's Lake County School Board recently questioned the sexual orientation of an openly bisexual … [Read more...]