5 Yrs After Signing of Landmark Law, Local Grps Working to End Anti-Gay Harassment@Schools

Five Years After Signing of Landmark Law, Local Groups Working to End Anti-Gay Harassment in Schools


September 30, 2004

Media Contacts:
Jason Riggs (415) 871-7351
Molly O’Shaughnessy (415) 626-1680

Five years after the signing of a landmark state non-discrimination law, and with new assistance from a statewide network of school safety experts, communities across California are working to curb pervasive harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in schools. On the eve of the October 2 anniversary of the law’s signing, the California Safe Schools Coalition today announced the recipients of 13 local grants totaling $20,000 for students, parents, educators and community groups working to reduce harassment and improve safety in public schools.

The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act was authored as AB 537 by then-Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl and signed into law on October 2, 1999. The landmark law added sexual orientation and gender, including gender identity, appearance and behavior, to the non-discrimination protections that apply to schools. Response to the law in school districts has varied widely, with some districts making significant changes to improve safety while others have yet to update non-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity, train teachers and administrators to prevent harassment, or introduce anti-harassment curriculum for students. Five years after its passage, the law’s impact is now being felt statewide as suburban, rural, and inland communities have undertaken efforts to create safer school environments.

“We’ve had a non-discrimination law for five years now, but harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity is still far too common in public schools,” said Molly O’Shaughnessy, Director of the California Safe Schools Coalition. A January 2004 study by the California Safe Schools Coalition and UC Davis found that harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation continues to be pervasive in California schools, and leads to increased absenteeism, lower grades, increased risk of drug and alcohol use, depression, suicidal thoughts, and weapon use among targeted students. The study also found high rates of harassment and slurs based on gender expression.

“Our local grants will enable more students, parents and community groups to make sure that the law’s protections translate into real safety for all students,” said O’Shaughnessy. In an effort to improve the patchwork implementation of the law’s protections in districts across the state, the Coalition is awarding 13 grants totaling $20,000 to student groups, parent organizations, schools, and community groups planning a wide variety of projects. For example, in Eureka, a student group will present a peer education theater program promoting tolerance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people at five high schools.

“There is so much more work to do before students really feel safe on campus,” said Debbie Hartridge, Director of Education at Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, which sponsors the student troupe. “Our theater program gives peer leaders a creative way to convey the same message that the law does: harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity is not acceptable in our schools.”

In Wildomar (Riverside County), Elsinore High School received funds to support staff training on preventing bias-related harassment, including harassment based on race and sexual orientation, after a racially motivated stabbing on campus this spring. In Orange County, the local chapter of Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is working to educate the school community in Westminster School District, where school board members recently refused to update district policies to comply with the state nondiscrimination law. Triangle Speakers, a Santa Cruz County group that presents panels of LGBT speakers in schools, will use its grant to improve outreach to Latino students and communities.

“Passing the law has raised public awareness of anti-LGBT harassment in our schools,” said Gina Lamb, Director of Arts and Technology Programs at REACH LA. “This grant will enable us to reach out to more students, to make sure that all students know their rights and know how to report discrimination and harassment.”

O’Shaughnessy is encouraged to see such widespread efforts to protect students from discrimination and harassment. “It’s going to take sustained commitment from schools, the state and the community to make schools safe for all students.”

The recipients of the grants are: Claremont Committee on Human Relations (Claremont); CARS - Committee to Assure Respect in Schools (Fremont); Ellen Press (San Mateo); Elsinore High School (Wildomar); Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) North Bay Chapter (Santa Rosa); the Gay-Straight Alliance Club at the California School for the Deaf (Fremont); Howard Educational Consulting (Riverside); Merced County Office of Education (Merced); Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Fremont/Newark/Union City/East Bay Chapter (Newark); PFLAG Orange County, South Orange County, and Long Beach Chapters (Westminster); REACH LA (Los Angeles); Six Rivers Planned Parenthood (Eureka); and Triangle Speakers (Santa Cruz). Click here for the full list of local grantees with project descriptions and contact information.

The California Safe Schools Coalition is a statewide network of experts and advocates working to implement the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act, which was signed into law on October 2, 1999. Members include the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California; Anti-Defamation League; California Teachers Association; Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere; Equality California; Gay-Straight Alliance Network; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; National Center for Lesbian Rights; Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays; The Respect for All Project; San Diego LGBT Community Center; and Transgender Law Center.

More info at http://www.casafeschools.org