Supporting LGBTQ Youth in California: Laws and Policies Overview
LGBTQ youth face significant risks in schools, with high percentages feeling unsafe due to their sexual orientation. California has laws like AB 827 and AB 9 to promote safe and inclusive environments, providing equal rights and opportunities regardless of characteristics like gender identity or sexual orientation.
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Californias LGBTQ Supportive Laws and Policies Vern Reinhart Spurgeon Intermediate
LGBT Youth are one of the highest at-risk groups in schools... A national study of middle and high school students shows that LGBT students (61.1%) were more likely than their non-LGBT peers to feel unsafe or uncomfortable as a result of their sexual orientation. According to data from CDC s YRBS, the percentage of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students (across sites) who did not go to school at least one day during the 30 days before the survey because of safety concerns ranged from 11% to 30% of gay and lesbian students and 12% to 25% of bisexual students. More at: http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm
AB 827: Safe Schools Act Existing law states the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law, the Safe Place to Learn Act, requires the State Department of Education, as part of its regular monitoring and review of a local educational agency, to assess whether the local educational agency has, among other things, adopted a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, as specified, and has publicized that policy to pupils, parents, employees, agents of the governing board, and the general public.
AB 827 -- continued The Legislature therefore encourages school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide information on existing school sites and community resources as required by subdivision (d) of Section 234.1 of the Education Code as part of a more comprehensive effort to educate school staff on the support of LGBTQ pupils. Schools must provide information to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils. School site resources may include, but are not limited to, peer support or affinity clubs and organizations, safe spaces for LGBTQ pupils, counseling services, staff who have received anti-bias or other training aimed at supporting these pupils or who serve as designated support to these pupils, health and other curriculum materials that are inclusive of, and relevant to, these pupils.
AB 9: Seths Law for Anti-Bullying If any school personnel witness an act of bullying, discrimination, intimidation or harassment, they are required to take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. It protects students who are bullied for disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The policy shall include a statement that the policy applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the school district.
SB 48: FAIR Education Act This act added language to the existing education code that requires the inclusion of the contributions of various groups in the history of California and the U.S. The language was amended to include: ...a study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.
AB 329: Comprehensive Sexual Education This act requires comprehensive sexual health education shall be age appropriate; medically accurate and objective; available on an equal basis to English language learners; and appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and students with disabilities. (1) To provide pupils with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their sexual and reproductive health from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and from unintended pregnancy. (2) To provide pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to develop healthy attitudes concerning adolescent growth and development, body image, gender, sexual orientation, relationships, marriage, and family.
AB 329 -- continued (3) To promote understanding of sexuality as a normal part of human development. (4) To ensure pupils receive integrated, comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased sexual health and HIV prevention instruction and provide educators with clear tools and guidance to accomplish that end. (5) To provide pupils with the knowledge and skills necessary to have healthy, positive, and safe relationships and behaviors.
AB 1156: Prevention of Bullying This act encourages the inclusion of policies aimed at the prevention of bullying in comprehensive school safety plans. It also allows victims of bullying to transfer schools if they feel unsafe at their home school. Because of this provision, it is important that schools include action plans for bullying and the prevention of bullying.
AB 1266: Transgender Inclusion Act Participation in a particular physical education activity or sport, if required of pupils of one sex, shall be available to pupils of each sex. A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil s records. Transgender students are allowed to be identified as the gender they choose, names they choose, pronouns they choose. Transgender students are allowed to use the facilities that they choose.
AB 2246: Suicide Prevention Act Act requires schools that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to, before the beginning of the 2017 18 school year, adopt a policy on pupil suicide prevention, as specified, that specifically addresses the needs of high-risk groups. High risk groups include, but are not limited to: Youth bereaved by suicide. Youth with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders. Youth experiencing homelessness or in out-of-home settings, such as foster care. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.
For more information: AB 9: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0001- 0050/ab_9_bill_20111009_chaptered.html SB 48: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/senatebill48faq.asp AB 329: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB329 AB 827: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB827 AB 1156: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1151- 1200/ab_1156_bill_20110920_enrolled.html AB 1266: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1266 AB 2246: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB2246
How can you participate? Start or support a GSA at your school! October 11: National Coming Out Day June 24: OC Pride Weekend @ Downtown Santa Ana Come watch Rainbow Warriors march in the parade from 10 am to 11 am!
Contact Us: Vern Reinhart Rainbow Warriors Advisor Spurgeon Intermediate School (714) 480-2200 veronica.reinhart@sausd.us Rainbow Warriors http://www.sausd.us/Domain/2042
