Gay teens should be protected under the law just like anyone else, but sometimes the rights of GLBT students are not respected.
Luckily, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a national public interest law firm, has taken on this issue. Its LGBT Project's Youth & Schools Program,
"Strives to make public schools safe and bias-free for LGBT kids and teachers. We help students protect their right to free expression, to establish gay-straight alliance clubs, to bring a same-sex date to the prom, and to be taught in an environment respectful of their sexual orientation and gender identity."
The project has four main components.
This includes information on:
- Gay-Straight Alliances
- Your Right to Be Out - or Not Out - at School
- Expressing Yourself
- Harassment and Bullying
- Prom and Dances
Here, your rights are explained and legal rationale is provided. For example, laws protecting free speech allow you to wear a gay pride shirt and those forbidding harassment protect you from anti-gay bullying.
If you think your school needs a make-over, this section covers:
- Getting your school to establish an anti-harassment policy
- How to start a GSA
- How to run an anti-harassment training
3) Library
Here you can find resources on school issues for GLBT youth including legal briefs and handouts.
4) Get Help
Come here if you are looking to contact the ACLU for legal advice or if you are being harassed. You can also access information on finding out your rights under the law.
Hopefully, you won't face these challenges. But if you do, one of the best ways to fight discrimination is to know your rights and what to do if they are violated.
Success Story Alert: Trevor Gilmore fought to get a Gay Straight Alliance at his conservative high school. Read how he did it here.
