Disclaimer: Content on the YP4 blog does not necessarily reflect the views of Young People For or People For the American Way Foundation. The views, ideas, statements or claims posted on this site by members of the public cannot in any way be attributed to either Young People For or People For the American Way Foundation.
UPDATE: Stop School Bullying this GSA Day!
As you know, PFAW recently celebrated GSA Day 2012 and the work of Gay-Straight Alliances that bring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight allied people together to stop bullying, homophobia, transphobia and hate, and we called on you to be part of the solution.
Stop School Bullying this GSA Day!
Following the increased media attention paid to bullying-related suicides in 2010, Senator Al Franken took a strong stand on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and those who are perceived to be LGBT. His Student Non-Discrimination Act (S. 555) protects them from school-based discrimination, much like Title IX does for gender discrimination, and much like other areas of law do for various protected classes. It recognizes bullying and harassment as discrimination, and it provides both for remedies against discrimination and incentives for schools to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Today, Senator Franken has an important video announcement for you regarding S. 555.
Department of Education takes another stand for LGBT youth
In October and December of 2010, the Department of Education took a stand for LGBT youth by issuing guidance to address bullying in schools, especially as it relates to federal education anti-discrimination laws. One of those laws, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. While the language does not specify sexual orientation and gender identity, the Department has made clear that harassment on these grounds, under certain circumstances, violates Title IX.
Yesterday, the Department of Education released new guidance, this time focusing on the right of students under the Equal Access Act to form extracurricular clubs, including gay-straight alliances (GSAs).
That Darn Gay Agenda
[asset|aid=264|format=image|formatter=asset|width=256|height=136|align=right|resizable=true]
Yup, we're at it again. The gay agenda is working its evil puppet strings. A Barstow high school in California is trying to form a Gay Straight Alliance. Can you believe it? Those crazy teenagers are at it again trying to make the school an accepting and diverse environment.
But one member of the community won't let this abomination go unopposed. In an editorial to the Desert Dispatch, a local paper, Richard Reeb tears into the idea of a GSA, denouncing the organization part of the "gay agenda" that is trying to destroy America.