Youth

(NEW YORK, January 15, 2002) — Two organizations that have long battled bias in the nation’s schools announced today that they have joined forces to create a guide for concerned community members who, in ever increasing numbers, support legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) students from violence and discrimination. The publication was published in time for the 2002 state legislative sessions, which promise high profile battles over student protections in states like Florida, New York, and Washington.

(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.

(NEW YORK, Monday, September 9, 2002) - Citing an increase in public school districts replacing sex education with programs that teach that sex is only acceptable for people who are heterosexual and married, Lambda Legal today released a first-of-its-kind toolkit to help youth, parents and community members make sure their local school district is teaching accurate and inclusive sex education. In the new school year, public school districts in 49 states will teach these so-called “abstinence only” programs, according to Lambda Legal.

(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.

(NEW YORK, July 30, 2001) — Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Monday confirmed reports that discrimination by the Boy Scouts of America is drawing unprecedented opposition, especially raising concerns that the BSA’s anti-gay policy is harmful to young people.

(NEW YORK, June 21, 2001) — In the year since the United States Supreme Court allowed the Boy Scouts of America to ban gay members, America is responding with unprecedented outrage against gay discrimination, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Thursday.

(CHICAGO, April 16, 2001) — A three-day speak out in key Iowa cities will raise questions about anti-gay discrimination in employment, Boy Scouts, and adoption by lesbian and gay parents.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Midwest Regional Director Matthew W. Roberts will address these and more concerns with “Isn’t That Against the Law?,” an interactive forum on civil rights law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (lgbt) and HIV-related communities.

(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.