Leading Legal and Youth Experts to Provide Community Members with Tools to Prevent Bullying (Delano, CA, May 12, 2011)—This Saturday, May 14, 2011, a one-day community conference will be held to address the harm caused by the widespread harassment and bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in schools and communities. Called Cultivating Power and Pride, the conference is designed to provide community members with the resources and tools they need to address bullying, and help...
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AB 9 Seeks to Create a Safer School Environment for California Students (San Francisco, CA, April 13, 2011)—Today the California Assembly Education Committee passed Seth’s Law in a 7-3 vote. AB 9, also known as Seth’s Law, is a comprehensive bill that addresses school bullying by providing California schools with specific tools to prevent and address the pervasive problem in order to create a safe school environment for all students. The bill is named “Seth’s Law” in memory of Seth...
California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and LGBTQ Equality Organizations Co-Sponsor AB 9 (San Francisco, CA, March 14, 2011)—Today, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano will introduce a comprehensive bill that tackles school bullying by providing California schools with specific tools to prevent and address the pervasive problem in order to create a safe school environment for all students. AB 9, also known as “Seth’s Law,” would ensure that every school in California implements updated...
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...
“We call on prosecutors not to compound this tragedy with another wrong.” (Los Angeles, CA, April 14, 2008)—A coalition of 27 groups fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights today is urging Ventura County prosecutors to try 14-year-old Brandon McInerney in juvenile court, and not as an adult. McInerney has been charged as an adult in the February 12 murder of his E.O. Green Middle School classmate, 15-year-old Lawrence King. Students say McInerney targeted King because...
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
Common legal questions and answers about gay/straight alliances. Download PDF