Schools

(Montgomery County, MD, September 4, 2007) — In court papers filed recently in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland Lambda Legal represents Metro DC Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in a lawsuit over a decision by the Montgomery County School Board to include information about sexual orientation as part of the health education curriculum for 8th and 10th graders.

(New York, February 21, 2007) — Today, Lambda Legal applauds a decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court, finding that if a school is aware or should be aware of harassment of students based on sexual orientation, it is obligated to act to end the harassment.

(San Francisco, Wednesday, August 28, 2002) -A gay student who sued high school administrators in Reno, Nevada, for failing to stop anti-gay harassment today signed a settlement agreement that ends the lawsuit and offers broad new protections that will impact gay and lesbian students nationwide. The agreement is the first in the country to recognize the constitutional right of gay and lesbian youth to be open about their sexual orientation in schools and to be protected from discrimination and harassment by other students.

(CHICAGO, Tuesday, December 4, 2001) —A Michigan arbitrator has ordered a local school district to apologize for misconduct against two gay teachers whose gay history month displays promoted safety and respect in their school, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Tuesday.

(SALT LAKE CITY, November 13, 2001) — A long, expensive court battle against student-run groups intended to support gay youth and their friends has ended for the state of Utah, which spent a quarter million dollars defending a Salt Lake City school board ban, the students’ lawyers said Tuesday.

(Lubbock,Texas, July 8, 2003) In court papers filed today, Lambda Legal is suing Lubbock Independent School District for barring students from forming a Gay Straight Alliance on campus and recognizing it as a legitimate school club.

(Lubbock, Texas, October 20, 2003) - Lambda Legal and the Lubbock chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will host a community town hall meeting Tuesday, October 28 about the need for and importance of a Gay Straight Alliance student club at Lubbock High School.

(NEW YORK, October 6, 2000) – Reversing the most extreme steps taken anywhere in the country against gay-supportive student clubs, the Salt Lake City School Board has decided to change its policy and allow the clubs to meet at schools in the Salt Lake City School District. That decision means two lawsuits on behalf of the clubs can finally be dropped, said attorneys for the students Friday.

(ORANGE, CALIFORNIA, September 7, 2000) — In a win-win situation for all, the Orange Unified School District has taken final steps to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the Gay-Straight Alliance of El Modena High School and its founder, student Anthony Colín. The suit was filed to secure equal treatment for the club as required by the federal Equal Access Act. The OUSD Board approved several new rules for all student clubs tonight; the settlement agreement with the GSA was contingent on Board adoption of those new rules.