Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gay youth are particularly vulnerable to discrimination. Key protections are needed. Check the details...
AREAS OF WORK
The main activities necessary to protect LGBT and queer youth:
1. Pass federal legislation forbidding bullying and harassment in schools for all youth. This legislation should specifically list sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Until federal legislation can be enacted, approve similar legislation at the state level. Studies show that this type of legislation is not only critical for the physical and mental welfare of all students, but also decreases school absence by LGBT students. GLSEN indicates that its research shows that statutes that do not enumerate specifically sexual orientation and gender identity provide no more benefit to LGBT students than not having any law at all.
2. Enact legislation protecting LGBT and queer youth in foster care and in the juvenile justice system.
3. Advocate for reproductive, sexual, and mental health education, which is responsible and age-appropriate. Abstinence-until marriage programs are proved not to work... much less with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and queers who are not allowed in most states to marry the person they love.
4. Ensure enforcement of youth protection legislation.
5. Ensure that Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) can be allowed to be formed in all schools.
6. Repeal legislation in seven states that prohibits to portray homosexuality in a positive light or discuss the contributions to society of so many LGBT people or the issues that LGBT people face. The seven states are: Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
WHO TO SUPPORT
Registered Members can check the Strategies for Each Equality Goal to review what strategies are most appropriate to protect LGBT and queer youth. Most of this work is at the state level, but the movement could benefit from more legislation at the federal level (e.g., anti-bullying).
The following organizations contribute significantly to this Equality Goal: [links will be added to their articles in Donor to Donor, once they are finished by the donors]
- Gay Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network)
Started in California, the GSA Network is now working to bring its success to schools all across America. The new frontiers are middle schools and religious schools. Introducing LGBTQ topics in the school curriculum is also needed. The GSA Network supports GSAs nationwide and provides social programs and leadership opportunities for LGBT and queer youth.
- Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Since its founding in 1990, GLSEN has been working to create safe schools through several programs including:
> National Day of Silence
> No-Name Calling Week
> Safe Space Program
- Advocates for Youth
They advocate for domestic and international policies to help young people make responsible decisions about reproductive and sexual health. Their many programs include:
> Media Project to ensure proper sexual health images on television
> Youth Resource
> Ambiente Joven (in Spanish)
- Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal has won several lawsuits protecting youth. Key programs that they have developed include:
> Out, Safe & Respected, which informs youth of their legal rights.
> National Prom Initiative, which informs youth about their right to bring a same-sex date to a prom
- American Civil Liberties Union
Through its Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, the ACLU has been active in protecting youth with several cases impacting Gay Straight Alliances. Additionally they are working on anti-harrassment in schools and in juvenile detention facilities.
- National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
NCLR, along with the ACLU, won a settlement in a case where a school district had discriminated and harassed students because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. In addition, NCLR has developed model professional standards for the care of LGBT and queer youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system.
- Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD)
GLAD is well-established in the Northeast as a litigator of cases involving youth rights (including school bullying).
