Students at Washington Preparatory High School have sued the Los Angeles Unified School District over what they say is a school climate hostile to gay and lesbian students.
The federal lawsuit, filed on Oct. 28 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, claims that administrators, teachers, and security guards at the school have harassed and bullied students based on their perceived or actual sexual orientation.
The complaint seeks an injunction ordering the district to stop the alleged treatment and to train staff members to “put an end to the hostile and intolerant school environment.”
In a statement, the 750,000-student district said it has been “extremely proactive” in providing protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Three training sessions have been held this year at Washington Preparatory, it said.
