The last thing any parent wants to realize is that their LGBTQ teen is facing discrimination. Sadly many students are bullied or ostracized for their sexual orientation. But did you know that your child’s school is legally required to protect civil rights?
LGBTQ teens facing discrimination are bound to feel a wide range of emotions. If you are a parent of a student being bullied, you should be aware this can damage their mental health. There are several suicide prevention projects with many resources for queer teens and their families.
Click here for more information.
While there might be no federal bullying laws, schools are still legally required to take action against bullying and discrimination. If the school fails to do so, it can open them up to a lawsuit.
Laws Protect LGBTQ Teens against Discrimination
As organizations that accept federal money, schools are required to comply with all federal civil rights laws.
Federal civil rights laws apply to groups of people called a protected class, and this guarantees all people equal rights regardless of their membership in one of these classes.
Protected classes are groups based on
- Race
- Gender
- Gender Identity
- Sexual Orientation
- Religion
- Ethnicity
- Disability
- National Origin
- And More
If your child is being bullied for being LGBTQ, and the school does nothing, then the school is not complying with federal rights laws.
Their actions can be considered discrimination against your child for their sexual orientation.
For more information on federal civil rights laws and bullying, click here.
Be sure to be on the lookout for other signs of discrimination. Click here to download our free signs of discrimination checklist!
What Can I do?
If you think your student’s civil rights are being violated, you might have the grounds to file a lawsuit. Start by keeping records of all communication with the school, save all receipts and invoices for expenses related to the bullying (counseling and so on), and call a lawyer to discuss your case.
At Cueto Law, our services are free to you unless we win. We don’t get paid unless you get paid, so make sure to call us at 618-277-1554 to talk to one of our lawyers.
