A common occurrence in the public school system today is the act of "bullying." The heartbreaking truth of the matter is that many LGBT and disabled students have been ostracized, harassed, and bullied in public schools. Often this bullying occurs with little or no intervention from school personnel. As a direct result of the bullying, the students often exhibit behaviors such as: a decline in academic performance, choosing to drop out of school altogether, and in some more extreme cases deciding to commit suicide; as a means of escaping the torture they are experiencing. Regardless of the severity of the situation, the message is loud and clear-"NO CHILD SHOULD BE AFRAID TO ATTEND SCHOOL!!!"

When it comes to the legal aspects of the issue, federal statutory protections address discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and disability. However, no federal law directly addresses bullying. In some cases, the concept of "bullying" overlaps with "discriminatory harassment," which is covered under federal civil rights laws enforced by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Sadly however, federal civil rights laws do not expressly protect students from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.



On a positive note, progress is being made. Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) have introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), which would prohibit public schools from discriminating against any student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Tell your representatives in Congress to support SNDA and protect the LGBT and disabled students nation-wide.