LGBTQ

Education news, analysis, and opinion about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer students or teachers and their experiences in school

See also: Transgender Students

Explainer

Hands holding different colored placards with the letters LGBTQ+
These LGBTQ+ Terms Can Help Create A Safe School for Students
To create a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students in schools, here are some terms that educators should know.
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Mental health solutions SR Lead 04
Laura Baker/Education Week and iStock/Getty
Special Report Tackling the Mental Health Crisis in Schools
Adolescents’ mental health is getting worse, and schools are on the front lines.
October 16, 2023
Image of a gavel and a family symbol.
marchmeena29/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts District Can't Let Students Change Pronouns Without Parental Consent, Judge Rules
A Wisconsin judge said gender transitions are a medical issue over which parents have fundamental control, including on pronouns in school.
Mark Walsh, October 5, 2023
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4 min read
A poster is held at the Iowa Queer Student Alliance "We say gay" rally inside the Iowa State Capitol on March 8, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Iowa Queer Student Alliance holds a "We say gay" rally inside the Iowa State Capitol on March 8, 2023, in Des Moines. The legislature passed a bill last spring that prohibits school districts from providing false or misleading information to parents regarding their children's gender identity. A federal appeals court ruled that the new law made parts of a lawsuit against the Linn-Mar Community School District's policy moot, though the court revived a challenge to one part of the policy.
Margaret Kispert/The Des Moines Register via AP
Law & Courts Appeals Court Blocks District Policy That Requires Students to 'Respect' Gender Identity
The federal appeals court panel holds that the policy is likely unconstitutionally vague under the First Amendment.
Mark Walsh, September 29, 2023
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4 min read
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts In New Term, Supreme Court Set to Tackle Case on School Board Members' Social Media Use
The docket for education cases looks more modest than last term, but cases on magnet schools and transgender students could be added.
Mark Walsh, September 28, 2023
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11 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, on May 9, 2023.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
States State Laws Restricting Curriculum, Pronoun Use Cause Confusion and Chaos in Schools
Educators say state laws that limit teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality are vague, with little help from state departments.
Libby Stanford & Ileana Najarro, September 21, 2023
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8 min read
Isaya S. waves out the window of a Seattle Public Schools bus while participating in the annual Seattle Pride Parade on June 25, 2023, in Seattle.
Isaya S. waves out the window of a Seattle Public Schools bus while participating in the annual Seattle Pride Parade on June 25, 2023, in Seattle.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Federal A Flood of Public Feedback Has Delayed a Title IX Change Covering Trans Athletes—Again
The Biden administration has not taken the final step to adopt long-awaited Title IX changes that would explicitly protect LGBTQ+ students.
Libby Stanford, September 20, 2023
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5 min read
Illustration of a person hiding their face while jagged shapes and aggressive forms close in around them.
Iryna Vladymyrova/iStock
Student Well-Being & Movement LGBTQ+ Students Feel the Weight of a Push for Parents' Rights
States and local school boards are passing laws that specifically target LGBTQ+ youth. It's affecting those students' mental health.
Libby Stanford, September 14, 2023
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7 min read
Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois secretary of state, talks with Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Book Bans: Examining How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature," in Hart Building on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois secretary of state, talks with Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Book Bans: Examining How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature," on Sept. 12, 2023.
Tom Williams/AP
Federal A Senate Committee Takes Up School Book Wars, Complete With Sharp Partisan Divisions
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "book bans" included one Republican senator reading sexually explicit passages.
Mark Walsh, September 12, 2023
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4 min read
California Attorney General Rob Bonta fields questions during a press conference on Aug. 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. California's attorney general sued a Southern California school district Monday over its recently adopted policy that requires schools to notify parents if their children change their gender identification or pronouns.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta answers questions from the media on Aug. 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Bonta is suing the Chino Valley Unified school district over a policy that requires schools to notify parents if their children change their gender identification or pronouns.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Law & Courts California Sues to Stop District From Disclosing Trans Students' Name Changes or Pronouns
The lawsuit challenges the Chino Valley district's policy requiring schools to notify parents about requests for gender changes.
Mark Walsh, August 28, 2023
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5 min read
A sticker with an LGBTQ Pride flag is viewed outside of a classroom door at a high school on Aug. 8, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
A sticker with an LGBTQ Pride flag is displayed on a classroom door at an Orlando, Fla., high school. LGBTQ+ students who had access to protective factors like Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), gender-neutral restrooms, and representation in curriculum and sex education reported lower suicide risk, according to The Trevor Project.
Phelan M. Ebenhack via AP
Student Well-Being & Movement LGBTQ+ Students With Affirming Schools Report Lower Suicide Risk, Survey Finds
Access to inclusive history, gender-neutral restrooms, and supportive clubs reduces LGBTQ+ students' suicide risk, says a report by The Trevor Project.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 24, 2023
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4 min read
Four of the 30 copies of the six Harry Potter books remain on a shelf at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in Crawfordsville, Ind., on July 18, 2007. The newest release, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will not even make it to the shelf when it is released on Saturday because of a waiting list to check out the book, according to a library spokesman in Crawfordsville.
Harry Potter books sit on a shelf at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in Crawfordsville, Ind., on July 18, 2007. Some educators are rethinking their inclusion of the popular book series in their classrooms because of the author's comments about transgender people.
Michael Conroy/AP
Reading & Literacy Is It Time to Retire 'Harry Potter'-Themed Classrooms and Libraries?
Author J.K. Rowling's comments on transgender people have left some educators uneasy about promoting the series.
Madeline Will, August 21, 2023
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6 min read
Concept image of hand grabbing book from library shelf with an outline of the state of Florida overtop of image.
Conceptual: Liz Yap/Education Week; iStock/Getty/DigitalVision Vectors
States What's With All the Education News Out of Florida? A Recap of Education Policy Decisions
Since 2022, the Florida department of education has generated a flurry of headlines around controversial policy decisions.
Ileana Najarro, August 16, 2023
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6 min read
A Safe Space sticker designating a supportive place for LGBTQ people is viewed outside of a classroom door at a high school on Aug. 8, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
A Safe Space sticker designating a supportive place for LGBTQ people is viewed outside of a classroom door at a high school on Aug. 8, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
Phelan M. Ebenhack via AP
Equity & Diversity 'Don't Say Gay' Law Has Some Florida Parents Considering Moves Out of State
Forty percent of Florida parents who responded to a survey want to leave the state because of its “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Eesha Pendharkar & Gina Tomko, August 14, 2023
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5 min read
Illustration of person sitting with knees to chest and hands pointing at them and one have reaching out and open to offer help.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Equity & Diversity District Failed to Protect Nonbinary Student From Harassment, Federal Investigation Finds
A Wisconsin district may owe compensatory instruction to a nonbinary student for excluding them from some in-person instruction.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 4, 2023
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5 min read
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