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Harassment,
Prom, Freedom of Expression
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Not everyone has
time to embark on a campaign to start a GSA or change school
district policies, but everyone can learn about the basic
rights of LGBT students and share their strategies.
LGBT students in most of the nation's schools face some form of overt discrimination. A 2001 poll by the mainstream Zogby organization surveyed 1,000 students across the country and found nearly half of them have heard their classmates verbally harass other students using anti-LGBT slurs. Most schools have been ignoring this harassment for years.
But student harassment isn't the only problem. Students also contend with prohibitions on same-sex couples attending school dances, administrators who threaten to "out" them, and blatant censorship of LGBT issues.
Fortunately, the law is on our side. The information below explains the law in each of these areas that affect LGBT students and supporters of LGBT equality. Use this knowledge to educate your school, even if it means simply sending your principal an email message with a link to this website. Often schools do not have access to the information they need to do the right thing. However, if your school continues to violate student rights or if you are not able to approach your school directly with this information, contact the ACLU for help.
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