Help our GLBT students by signing this petition that will email our reps in congress to support H. R. 4530, the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA).
http://gayrights.change.org/actions/view/protect_lgbt_students_from_discrimination

My note to my rep:

I just heard about H.R. 4530, which explicitly protects gay and transgender students from discrimination and harassment in public schools. I hope you will support it because I think it will go a long way toward making LGBT students feel safe in American public schools.

I came out as gay in my junior year of high school. I encountered no discrimination or harassment from any of my peers or teachers, and I consider myself incredibly lucky in that respect. Even so, the decision to come out was difficult and scary for me, so I can’t imagine how much worse it would be for a student who had suffered discrimination from teachers or school officials, or who was bullied by classmates while the school did nothing to defend him.

This is one of those bills that just makes sense, and the sooner it becomes law, the sooner LGBT students will be protected in the same way other minorities have been protected for decades. I hope you will support this bill. Vote YES on H.R. 4530!

This bill is incorrectly described as protecting “gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered” students. No—it protects the expression of this behavior, and since this behavior is both high-risk and not biological, it’s very damaging to uphold this as a good option for kids. HIV rates among 13 to 24 year males are skyrocketing, and it may be because we are supressing the truth about this lifestyle. Where will these non-discrimination hawks be when the current 14 year old dies or is disabled at age 30 due to this unnecessary behavior? Let’s get some sense. And it’s not “hate” to say this, folks—it’s the best thing we can do for kids.

Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered is not a behavior, or an “expression of [a] behavior”. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual are simply words used to describe a sexual orientation. Not a “lifestyle”. Not a “sexual preference”; no one (at least in my experience) prefers to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. It is more of a burden than anything else. A burden someone is stuck with, for whatever the undiscovered scientific reason may be. You see, sexual orientation concerns the feelings or attractions on person holds for another. Feelings, last I checked cannot be chosen, and feelings do not a lifestyle make. Take me for example. I am a lesbian. I am also celibate. Me being a lesbian… is NOT a choice, lifestyle, or preference. Me being celibate… IS a choice, lifestyle, and preference.

What kind of protections are already in place to secure the safety of all students, without regard to their membership in specific classes? This act could be profitable to lawyers.

It may be more profitable for this action to not be in place. The court rulings of Nabozny v. Podlesny, and Davis V. The Monroe County School have set a precedent that the title IV educational amendments of 1972 can be viewed as protecting students from harassment based on sexual preference. The lack of formal policy has prevented schools from setting up structures to protect students in this regard, however. What this has led to is that many students who pursue litigation against the schools on the grounds of sexual harassment have a good chance of winning to the case since the schools do not address the issue. If anything this policy could insulate the schools by putting in place methods for addressing these issues and therefore limiting liability.

I believe ALL students need to be protected from bullying and harassment, gay and straight alike. Bullying happens to kids for a variety of reasons, including being overweight, socially awkward, or having a disability. Being/ being perceived of as gay/lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered is one major reason, (though yes, not the only one, as I know firsthand). But when it happens to kids for sexual orientation/ gender identity, their membership in a “specific class” is automatically made an issue by the bullies, and is the reason why they are being targeted. If people are going to be targeted BECAUSE of their membership in a “specific class” (and in quite high numbers), legal protections specified for THAT PARTICULAR CLASS are in fact necessary.

So I support this bill!

Every day innocent students fall victim to relentless harassment and discrimination from teachers, staff, and fellow students based on their sexual orientation.
This is just one example:
http://www.click2houston.com/video/21801302/index.html

Shouldn’t we be promoting sexual purity until marriage? That one change in behavior could save so much heartache and emotional pain. Whatever happened to expecting humans to use self-control? We are not animals. We make moral choices based upon values. I waited until my wedding night and it wasn’t hard at all. You just set boundaries upon yourself. I respect my husband so much because he honored me before marriage. I have no doubt in my mind that he will be faithful throughout our years together. He already has proven that to me.

They aren’t promoting sexual activity. They are promoting equality… something American’s are supposed to have.

The U.S. Constitution does not have “RELIGIOUS BELIEFS” ,regardless what the Religious intolerant may claim. If the “FOUNDING FATHERS” wanted a Theocracy ,they would have mentioned " Christ Christian God Jesus Bible" some where in the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. These words are nowhere to be found. Search for your self!

If you oppose radical sexual material detailing sex between first graders or promoting S&M but the Safe Schools Czar or some other official believes it is appropriate- tough. If you disagree with books romanticizing child rape or books with pictures of men having sex- tough. If you oppose weekend student-teacher seminars with fisting lectures and gay bar guides- tough. If government officials want to promote this in your child’s classroom then you’ll just have to get used to it.

No one wants to see a child picked on, harrassed or ridiculed, but this bill takes government control to a whole new level. It is a radical’s dream come true. This bill is a direct assault on our nation’s moral fabric.

Same as I said to sbluemling, its not about sex its about not be picked on because your different.

When was the last time you heard of a student being beat up because he/she was straight?

“Students getting beat up” should be protected regardless. They don’t need special classification, and we don’t need to teach our kids that sodomy is a proper lifestyle choice.

Separation of Church and State… you do know what that is, right?

Nine out of ten LGBT students in middle and secondary schools throughout the nation report that they have been harassed because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, and 61 per cent of them say they feel unsafe in their schools because of attitudes about their sexuality, according to GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. “Under the proposed law, known as the Student Non-Discrimination Act, gay and lesbian students in public schools could not be excluded from participating in or be subject to discrimination under any educational program that receives federal assistance. Discrimination would include harassment, which is defined as acts of ‘verbal, nonverbal or physical aggression,’ as well as intimidation or hostility based upon a student’s actual or perceived sexual orientation.” http://unfinishedlivesblog.com/2010/02/20/gay-teens-murder-inspired-federal-student-non-discrimination-act/

And these unsafe feelings lead to the 8.4 times more likely to commit suicide.

This bill is not in support of the sexual actions of the GBLT students… its reaching out and trying to protect them from certain groups telling them they can not join because of the groups personal “morals”. I’m tired of people trying to shove their “morals” down childrens throats… back off and let them be their own people. And if you don’t like that sorry… they aren’t your kids.

Personally, as far as transgendered students, I don’t understand why they aren’t already covered by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as amended in 2008. After all, transgendered and transsexual individuals are recognized, by the American Psychiatric Association, in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as belonging to the “Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group”. Typically such persons are diagnosed with a gender identity disorder. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes various gender identity disorders in their “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD). The ICD even goes so far as to distinguish between “transsexualism” and “Gender identity disorder of childhood”, from other gender disorders.

I think we need to support all the anti-discrmination stuff can for the whole GLBT community. I live in Idaho where there is no anti-discrimination laws in place and I can’t get a job because the bastards here won’t hire transsexuals based on simple judgements. However, I hardly look like a man at all and don’t see how anybody even knows in the first damn place. Besides that, we’re ALL supposed to be guaranteed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, those being life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are we not? What a crock of shit! I am a warrior and I say lets ban together on this and make waves, I have to pay my child support and want to see my son again and I should be able to be allowed to work so I can finish my transition someday, it’s my god given right!

My note sent to Rep. Frank Pallone here in NJ

I am writing to ask you to support H.R. 4530, the Student Nondiscrimination Act of 2010. Bullying and harassment are huge issues for young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. I am against bullying of all students, as I experienced bullying growing up (not for my sexual orientation), but I know that LGBT youth are highly vulnerable to bullying. Many people bullied are victimized because of their sexual orientation/ gender identity. Too many students take their own lives related to the abuse, as we’ve seen examples of recently, including the suicide of Tyler Clementi at Rutgers. Because of their high vulnerability the law needs to specify their need for protection in schools. Thank you.