Districts Adopting Policies To Protect Gay Students' Rights

By Jessica Portner

When Patricia Carey, a school board member in Chappaqua, N.Y., went to a meeting one evening last June, she had a feeling of nervous anticipation. The board was set to vote on a policy to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, which she and several students had written.

After an hourlong debate, the school board passed the measure unanimously. Chappaqua joined New York City as the state's only districts that specifically prohibit harassment of gay students.

"Homophobic remarks were part of everyday life at school, and we felt it was time to change that," Ms. Carey said. "Teachers don't stand for comments like 'nigger' or 'fatty,' so why should they tolerate...