Polis, Scott, Ros-Lehtinen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to End LGBT Student Discrimination
WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) today introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), which would help protect public school students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) will be introducing the companion bill in the Senate today.
"Every single child deserves a quality education that is free from discrimination and prepares them for college and a career," said Representative Polis. "It's simply unacceptable that in 2015, there are thousands of students who face bullying and harassment every day when they get to school simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity."
"Evidence shows that discrimination against LGBT students deprives them of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underperforming academically, and dropping out," said Rep. Scott, ranking Democratic member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "School must be a place where all students feel welcome and safe to thrive."
"No student should face discrimination for any reason, including their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen. "If we aspire to a society where prejudices are a relic of the past then we must begin by preaching and living the virtues of tolerance at our educational institutions."
The bill would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It would also forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior. Modeled after Title IX, violation of SNDA would result in the loss of federal funding and give victims a legal cause of action for discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition to the many tragic news reports attesting to the dangers of bullying and harassment against LGBT youth, several academic and government studies have confirmed the need for action to address these patterns of discrimination. A recent nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7–12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers. Further, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, negative attitudes toward LGBT youth put these students "at increased risk for experiences with violence, compared with other students."
Rep. Polis first introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) in 2010. During the 112th Congress, the Obama Administration took an official position on the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), stating their support.
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