RELATED CONTENT
> Annual Update 2009 – Schools & Youth
> Gillman v. Holmes County School District – Case Profile
> Gonzalez v. School Board of Okeechobee County – Case Profile
> Morrison v. Boyd Co. Board of Education – Case Profile
Recognition of Gay Straight Alliances (GSA)
Florida: Successfully represented students seeking to form GSA at Okeechobee High School; ending fiercely-fought litigation, federal district judge disagreed with school’s contention that GSAs interfere with “abstinence-only” policies and, in a legal first, ordered schools to provide for well-being of gay students
Illinois: Persuaded school board to recognize GSA at Hononegah High School in Rockton
Minnesota: Won ruling from federal appeals court ordering Maple Grove High School in Osseo to give its LGBT student club the same access to school facilities and resources as other clubs; used case to persuade Anoka Hennepin School District, the largest in the state, to treat all student clubs equally
Nebraska: Successfully represented students at Bellevue East High School in Bellevue who were denied permission to form GSA
New Mexico: Successfully advocated before Farmington Municipal School Board against ban on all extracurricular school clubs, proposed in order to prevent GSA from forming
North Carolina: Persuaded principal of Southwest Edgecombe High School in Pinetops to allow GSA; also got same principal to remove from lesbian student’s record a disciplinary write-up for kissing another girl at a football game
Oklahoma: Got school board to allow GSA to form over principal’s Objections
Pennsylvania: With youth and LGBT groups, formed Youth Advocacy and Rights Project to empower and support Philadelphia-area GSAs
South Carolina: Persuaded high school in Irmo to recognize GSA West Virginia: Challenged decision of Musselman High School in Inwood not to allow GSA (unsuccessful)
Discrimination/Harassment of LGBT Students
Challenging and preventing discrimination and harassment
Alaska: Helped transgender student get permission to use faculty unisex bathroom on ongoing basis
California: Filed friend-of-the-court brief in opposition to school district’s appeal of $300,000 jury verdict awarded to two LGBT students at Poway High School, near San Diego, for prolonged harassment they suffered from other students (pending)
California: Represented Lake County School District student challenging years of harassment based on his sexual orientation and gender identity; resulted in district-wide policies against discrimination and programs to implement them
Illinois: Negotiated agreement allowing transgender girl to follow girl’s dress code at school; student had previously been forced to remove makeup and banned from wearing “too feminine” clothes
Kentucky: After school officials ignored intimidation of GSA meetings at Ohio County High School in Hartford, demanded and got improved security Measures
Kentucky: In aftermath to successful suit to protect LGBT students at Boyd County High School, participated in federal appellate case balancing school safety concerns with First Amendment rights
Louisiana: Worked with Shreveport mother to persuade high school officials to allow her transgender son to use male faculty restroom
Montana: Did Making Montana Schools Safer trainings for over 200 teachers, parents and community members across the state
New York: Assisted transgender freshman and his parent win permission to use boys’ restroom facilities at school
Pennsylvania: Represented Franklin High School ninth grader harassed by classmates because of his perceived sexual orientation; district agreed to pay monetary damages and conduct anti-harassment training for staff and students
South Dakota: Challenged principal for interrogating student and her parents about her sexual orientation, ostensibly to manage her participation in overnight school activity; school agreed not to so violate student’s privacy in the future
Tennessee: Advocated for Memphis students “outed” to their parents by their principal (ended when students declined to participate in formal litigation)
Working for passage of safe schools legislation and policies
California: Helped enact law requiring Department of Education to monitor school compliance with state laws banning harassment of LGBT students
Florida: Helped pass statewide anti-bullying law
Illinois: With Safe Schools Alliance, produced safe schools forums in Peoria and Bloomington/Normal areas; created brochure explaining laws that protect youth and encouraging students to take action to protect their rights
Massachusetts: Worked on anti-bullying legislation (pending)
Michigan: Worked on anti-bullying legislation (pending)
Missouri: Supported efforts to pass statewide anti-bullying bill
Nebraska: Helped pass law requiring every public school to create antibullying policy
New York: Pushed for passage of statewide Dignity for All Students Act (DASA ) to protect LGBT students from bullying in schools (passed Assembly but stalled in Senate); pressed for full implementation of New York City’s DASA
New York: Worked with Office of Children and Family Services to develop good policies for LGBT youth in juvenile detention programs
Pennsylvania: Lobbied unsuccessfully for bill giving protections to LGBT youth in foster care
Tennessee: Worked with Nashville students to successfully persuade Davidson County school board to adopt anti-harassment policy including protections for LGBT youth
Tennessee: Gave presentation at School Boards Association’s conference to hundreds of school board members on their legal responsibilities to LGBT students
LGBT Pride, Visibility & Expression in Schools
Rainbows and t-shirts
Florida: Won federal lawsuit on First Amendment grounds on behalf of students at Ponce de Leon High School banned from wearing rainbow stickers in support of classmate harassed for being a lesbian; lead plaintiff Heather Gillman subsequently awarded AC LU scholarship and Playboy Foundation award for her advocacy
Illinois: Submitted friend-of-the-court brief in federal appellate case (Nuxoll v. Indian Prairie School District) balancing student speech rights against school’s interest in student safety
New York: Represented sophomore at Spencer-Van Etten High School in Spencer who was sent home for wearing t-shirt that said, “Gay? Fine by me;” school officials relented, assuring all students that they may wear t-shirts with controversial messages
Pennsylvania: Successfully advocated for two students in Oil City School District sent home for refusing to remove t-shirts about Day of Silence
Virginia: Advocated for Norcom High (Portsmouth) senior disciplined for wearing t-shirt with image of two overlapping female gender symbols; school relented and agreed not to censor students
Proms
Alabama: Assisted attorney for two girls to win state court ruling ordering Scottsboro City Board of Education to allow them to attend their prom together
Arkansas: Persuaded Twin Rivers School District to allow students to attend prom with dates of their choice, regardless of gender
California: Assisted gay student couple in successful effort to persuade Simi Valley High School officials to allow them to go to the prom
Illinois: Successfully challenged decision of high school in Spring Valley not to allow student to take a date of the same sex to prom
Oklahoma: Helped students resolve favorably prom dispute at Eisenhower High School in Lawton
Texas: Helped student in Pflugerville persuade principal to change school’s policy of only opposite-sex dates for prom
Wisconsin: Advocated unsuccessfully on behalf of gay male senior at Racine Park High School whom school officials prevented from running for Prom Queen
Classrooms and Curriculum
Idaho: Worked with high school teacher to ensure Day of Silence participation, despite principal’s opposition
Massachusetts: Filed friend-of-the-court brief in Parker v. Hurley to support Lexington School District’s decision to include books in the curriculum depicting diverse families, including families headed by gay couples; 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of school district
New Jersey: Challenged Board of Education of Evesham’s decision to pull the film That’s a Family from elementary school curriculum because it showed families headed by same-sex couples (pending)
Tennessee: Intervened on behalf of Washington County student punished for organizing Day of Silence activities; school apologized and agreed to support student free speech rights
Tennessee: Successfully lobbied against bill to ban discussion about sexual orientation (other than heterosexuality) in public schools
Texas: Prepared and publicized know-your-rights guide on student expression in public schools to support student participation in Day of Silence
Related Issues
Related Content
Related Documents
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.