(Washington. D.C., May 20, 2010) — Today, the National Center of Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds Senator Franken for introducing the Student Non-Discrimination Act in the Senate. The Student Non-Discrimination Act is federal legislation designed to ensure that all students have access to public education in a safe environment free from discrimination, including harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence. The proposed legislation would provide nationwide comprehensive prohibition of...
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(Washington, D.C., January 27, 2010) — Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds the introduction of the Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 4530), new federal legislation designed to ensure that all students have access to public education in a safe environment free from discrimination, including harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would provide nationwide comprehensive prohibition of discrimination in public schools based...
(San Francisco, CA, April 16, 2010) — Today hundreds of thousands of students nationwide will stay silent to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools as part of the Day of Silence. “Today my kids are participating in Day of Silence and our 13-year-old son Julian helped to organize events at his school,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “Seeing my kids and knowing of the thousands of others around...
In November 2007, anti-LGBTQ organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging California’s safe schools laws that, among other things, protect students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. NCLR clients Equality California and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network got involved in the case in order to defend and protect the anti-discrimination laws. In January 2008, shortly after NCLR and our co-counsel filed an amicus brief asking the court to...
Seventeen-year-old J.W. and 18-year-old D.A. had been dating for almost six months when J.W.’s mother, Ms. W., learned about their relationship. Because she disapproved of her daughter dating another woman, in December 2007, Ms. W. petitioned a Florida court to get a restraining order to prohibit any contact between the two. Ms. W. admitted in court that she was seeking a restraining order only because she did not want her daughter to have a relationship with another woman. Even though...
Right-wing Groups End Signature Gathering for Ballot Measure Against SB 777; Lawsuit Seeking to Deny Civil Rights of Youth Moves Forward (Sacramento, CA, June 24, 2008)—Right- wing groups have failed for a second time to reverse a law that protects California students in public schools from harassment and discrimination. Despite launching signature-gathering efforts earlier in the year, the Capitol Resource Institute on Saturday announced it would no longer seek to overturn Senate Bill 777 at...
Suit Threatens Basic Student Protections (San Diego, CA, January 19, 2008) — Friday evening, Equality California (EQCA) and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) filed an amicus brief supporting Attorney General Edmund G. Brown’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit attempting to invalidate SB 777, the Student Civil Rights Act. The brief argues that the complaint has no legal merit. California’s Attorney General filed the motion to dismiss the lawsuit on January 11, 2008. The lawsuit, that...
SB 777, the newly enacted Student Civil Rights Act, remains in effect (Sacramento, CA, January 11, 2008) — Equality California (EQCA), the Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network), Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the Transgender Law Center (TLC) responded today to the failure of a signature drive to overturn the newly enacted California Student Civil Rights Act, SB 777. The new law, which went into effect on January 1st, reinforces existing prohibitions of...
Why school districts should include sexual orientation and gender identity in their anti-harassment policies. Download PDF
This document is designed to provide guidance for advocates involved in drafting Safe Schools legislation. The document outlines the important elements to be included in such legislation and offers suggested language from existing statutes and bills. Download PDF