Addressing the Mistreatment of LGBT Students in the U.S. Public and Private Schools

Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)

Issues Generally

Over the past 50 years, and particularly since 1970, gays have made great strides in countering discrimination and attaining some modicum of equality under the law. In this regard, gains by LGBT persons under the law, in the public policy arena, and through societal recognition generally parallel many of the recognized achievements of women, people of color, and the disabled.

Yet -- as has been the case with discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and disability -- the great progress of recent decades continues to be accompanied by a recognition that there are still major challenges ahead. For example,

• Many laws discriminating against LGBT’s remain on the books;
• Great misunderstandings regarding homosexuality persist; and
• Homophobia remains a major issue in the schools, the military, professional sports, and organized religion.

In America’s schools, anti-gay slurs are acceptable where racial slurs would never be. Gay bashing persists, and suicide rates for gay teens continue to be off the charts.

The legal arena is increasingly viewed by gay activists as an essential battleground, and many public interest lawyers, law firms, and organizations continue to work very hard to file lawsuits, modify existing federal and state statutes, and in general guarantee equity and fairness for all persons, no matter what their sexual orientation might be. Particularly important in this context, for these activists, is that gays be afforded the opportunity (as has begun to be the case in our lifetimes) to lead full and complete lives, building relationships and families and communities in an open and comfortable fashion.

Increasingly, in this era, people have begun to understand just how many unhappy family relationships and bad marriages have come about because the above vision has not yet become the norm. Many are beginning to recognize the terrible loneliness, the despair, and the disproportionate number of suicide attempts (successful or otherwise, at all ages) that have resulted.

As our society continues to move forward and enable gays (legally and as a matter of policy) to give effect to their feelings and emotions, build on the positive aspects of unique personality characteristics, and embrace love, schools in particular are a central area of focus. Needless to say, it is not a simple story that is unfolding.

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