Schools

From September 2010 eNews

Q: Two weeks ago, I started 8th grade at a new middle school. My old school had a diversity day every year and I wore a T-shirt from that event my first week at the new school. A group of kids saw it and they haven't stopped hassling me since. They even threw my backpack into a trash can in the cafeteria. I told the principal but the only thing she said was to not wear the shirt. Is there anything else I can do?

A: There's a lot more you can do.

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of discrimination claims against Indian River Central School District in a federal lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, with the assistance of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, on behalf of Charlie Pratt, who suffered sexist and antigay harassment at school.

The New York Senate passed the "Dignity For All Students Act" that would clearly prohibit all bias-based bullying, including harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, in the state's public schools.

(Medford, Oregon, April 17, 2009) — Lambda Legal has sent a letter of support to South Medford High School Principal Kevin Campbell, Medford School District Superintendent Phil Long, and the School Board on behalf of South Medford High School student and Gay Straight Alliance member Connie McNair.

(Philadelphia, NY April 17, 2009) — Just days after Lambda Legal, with the assistance of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, filed a federal lawsuit against the Indian River Central School District, the District said it will allow Ashley Petranchuk to form a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).

(San Diego, October 10, 2008) — In a 3-0 decision, the California Court of Appeal (Fourth District) today upheld a jury decision that found that Poway Unified School District officials took minimal or no action at all when two Poway High School students were subjected to relentless harassment because they are gay and lesbian. The ruling upheld an award of $300,000 to Megan Donovan and Joey Ramelli under the state education code.

(Gary, IN, December, 12, 2007) — In court papers filed today in the Northern District Court of Indiana, Lambda Legal says that West Side High School violated K.K. Logan's First Amendment rights when it barred her from her prom for wearing a dress.

K.K. Logan, then identifying as gender-non-conforming gay male, attended West Side High during her junior and senior year and expressed a deeply rooted femininity in her appearance and demeanor. Both classmates and teachers at the school supported her in her daily attendance dressed in clothes typically associated with girls her age.

(Apple Valley, California, February 8, 2008) — In response to ongoing harassment of and threats of violence against gay and lesbian students at Granite Hills High School, Lambda Legal has sent an advocacy letter to the Apple Valley School District.

SAN DIEGO – Equality California and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network are seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by anti-gay organizations that would prevent enforcement of California statutes protecting students from discrimination, harassment and bullying in publicly funded schools.

(New York, October 18, 2007) — In an effort to persuade the Ithaca City School District to abandon its stance that the New York Human Rights Law does not apply to public schools, Lambda Legal today sent school board members a letter critiquing the board's argument and explaining the potential harm the board's position could cause.

"The human rights law is the only effective law that expressly addresses antigay discrimination in New York Schools," said Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director at Lambda Legal. Attacking it jeopardizes LGBT students."