House Sees Bill That Could Prohibit Discrimination Against LGBT Kids In Public Schools

(WASHINGTON D.C.) The Student Non-discrimination Act of 2010 (SNDA) was introduced yesterday to the House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would prohibit discrimination against any public school student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill would further protect public school students from being discriminated against due to the perceived sexual orientation of persons with whom they associate. The bi-partisan SNDA was introduced by Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and has 60 co-sponsors.

“Hatred has no place in the classroom,” said Congressman 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.”

Federal statutory and/or constitutional protections expressly address discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex and disability, but do not expressly address sexual orientation or gender identity. As a result, students and parents have limited legal recourse to redress for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“This landmark bill is long overdue. Many LGBT students face harassment, discrimination and sometimes violence in our schools,” said Christopher Anders, senior legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, which strongly supports the bill and urges swift action by the House.

The SNDA is closely modeled after title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides legal recourse to redress such discrimination.

The SNDA is supported by The American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, American Counseling Association, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders), GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, National Women’s Law Center, School Social Work Association of America, and Transgender Law Center.

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View GLSEN’s latest report on bullying, discrimination, and harassment in U.S. schools HERE