Protecting LGBT Students from Discrimination

By now, most everyone has heard about Constance McMillen's story. She's the 18-year-old Mississippi high school student who wanted to bring a same-sex date to her senior prom. But instead of allowing that to happen, her high school -- Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi -- decided to cancel the prom for everyone. No gay couples. No straight couples. No prom.

While Constance's story is frustrating, the scary part is that she's not alone. Discrimination toward LGBT students happens every day in middle schools and high schools around the country. From homophobia in the locker room to harassment in the hallways, LGBT students bear the brunt of anti-gay behavior each and every day.

That's why Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colorado) is hoping to make the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) a reality. Rep. Polis, one of only three openly gay lawmakers in Congress, introduced the measure in the U.S. House earlier this year, and the bill has more than 60 co-sponsors on board. What will SNDA do?

It will, according to Rep. Polis, establish a "comprehensive Federal prohibition of discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and provide victims with meaningful and effective remedies." Meaning that it will create a truly safe environment for students, pushing our schools another step closer toward rooting out homophobia.

National Stonewall Democrats has a petition right now that you can sign, sending a message to your Congressperson asking them to support the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The time to act is now. What's to stop another school from canceling prom, or another act of physical violence against an LGBT student, if we don't pass SNDA?

As National Stonewall Democrats writes, "What's happening in Mississippi unfortunately happens all too often around the country, and not just during Prom season. LGBT students -- and those students who are perceived to be LGBT or who associate with LGBT students -- are subjected to discrimination, including harassment, bullying, violence; and are deprived of equal access to educational opportunities."

Let's try to put an end to that discrimination once and for all, and make SNDA the law.

When he introduced the bill, Rep. Polis said that there's no room for homophobia in education. It's destructive. It's damaging. And it hurts a student's chance to learn -- both for LGBT and straight students.

“Hatred has no place in the classroom,” said Polis.  “Every student has the right to an education free from harassment and violence.  This bill will protect the individual freedoms of our students and enshrine the values of equality and opportunity in our classrooms.”

Polis also mentioned that he had Lawrence King in mind when he introduced the bill. For those who might not remember, King was the 15-year-old gay high school student who two years ago was gunned down inside a classroom, because a fellow student had problems with King's sexual orientation.

"I hope that if there is any positive impact that can come out of a tragedy like the Larry King tragedy, it can be this law that will protect other students from meeting the same fate," said Polis.

He's right. Our goal shouldn't just be to address anti-gay actions in schools. It should be to end them completely.

Take a moment and sign the petition from the National Stonewall Democrats, and lend your voice to the movement to protect LGBT students inside America's public schools. All proms, all classrooms, all school cafeterias should be safe places for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Photo credit: Beth Rankin