Have you or someone you know experienced LGBT based bullying, harassment, or discrimination in school?
According to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), you are not alone:
Approximately 85% of high school students report being harassed in school because of their real or perceived sexual orientation and 64% of students report being harassed for being too masculine or too feminine. Even more troubling, only 18% of LGBT students report that their schools have policies which offer comprehensive protections.
Without adequate statewide protections, what can members of school communities do to address these issues?
We can take action to ensure LGBT students claim their rights, create a record measuring anti-LGBT harassment, and use this record to advocate laws and policies that will address this epidemic plaguing our nation’s schools.
Empowering school communities with this information , and delivering reports to the U.S. Education Department is a critical first step in claiming our rights and getting the tools to create change and build safer schools. We need your help in this important educational and advocacy effort.
GLSEN recommends that if you – or someone that you know – have experienced school-based bullying, harassment, or discrimination, please file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Education Department today. For more information on how to file a complaint, visit GLSEN’s website.
For information regarding New Hampshire’s anti-bullying law and other resources check out Bully Free New Hampshire.
For discrimination matters in areas of employment, public accommodations and the sale or rental of housing or commercial property, because of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin contact the NH Commission for Human Rights.
The Lawyer Referral Service of the New Hampshire Bar Association has a panel of competent attorneys experienced with handling discrimination matters. Most discrimination claims are time-sensitive so call LRS today at 603-229-0002 or request an online referral.