Guidebook addresses legal issues surrounding sexual orientation
10/26/04 — A consortium of national organizations, under the leadership of NSBA, has issued a resource document to help school leaders address legal issues surrounding students’ orientation and gender identity.
The guide covers schools’ and students’ legal rights in a question-and-answer format. Among the issues covered are the formation of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, T-shirts with pro-gay or anti-gay messages, complaints about pro-gay instructional materials, same-sex couples at school dances, and harassment of students based on sexual orientation.
“A good deal of misinformation and concern currently surrounds lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in the schools,” says NSBA General Counsel Julie Underwood. “By providing clear information on schools’ legal rights and responsibilities, we want to help educators respond to questions that may arise. Most important, we hope to help improve the educational climate for all students.”
Among the 13 groups in the consortium are the American Association of School Administrators, the teacher unions, the principals’ associations, American School Counselor Association, National Association of School Psychologists, School Social Work Association of America, and the United Church of Christ Justice & Wellness Ministries,
Dealing with Legal Matters Surrounding Students’ Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity can be downloaded free of charge at www.nsba.org/cosa/sexualorientation.
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