California high school student joins ACLU to advocate for H.R. 4530 | San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

California high school student joins ACLU to advocate for H.R. 4530 | San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

California high school student joins ACLU to advocate for H.R. 4530

Bill would end discrimination of LGBTQ students in public schools

Morgan M. Hurley, SDGLN Copy Editor | Sat, 03/13/2010 - 10:58am | Login to bookmark or comment

ENLARGE

Photo credit: Courtesy of Cheri HamiltonCheri Hamilton (left) and Rochelle Hamilton

VALLEJO -- A new bill would directly impact the quality of life for LGBTQ teens in public school systems.
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., introduced the bill -- H.R. 4530: Student Nondiscrimination Act of 2010 -- on Jan. 27.
The proposed legislation states its purpose "To end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identify in public schools, and for other purposes." It would provide the students and their families legal recourse against discriminatory treatment.
“All I ever wanted was to be able to go to school and just be myself. But I couldn’t do that when the people I was supposed to be learning from were judging me and telling me something was wrong with me. How was I supposed to learn when I was constantly scared?” - high school student, Rochelle Hamilton
The day after the bill was introduced, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a letter to the entire U.S. House of Representatives. The letter, signed by Michael W. Macleod-Ball, acting director, Washington Legislative Office, and Christopher E. Anders, senior legislative counsel, detailed the negative impact this type of discrimination has on our children and urged each member of Congress to co-sponsor the bill.
"On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan organization with more than a half million members, countless activists and supporters, and fifty-three affiliates nationwide, we urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 4530, the Student Non-Discrimination Act. This important and necessary legislation would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on a student's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and provides victims with meaningful and effective remedies modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
Discrimination against LGBT students in public schools across this country is an unacceptable daily reality. Every student deserves the opportunity to attend school and learn without the fear of being targeted for harassment and discrimination simply based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The ACLU’s own work advocating for equal protection for LGBT students is replete with examples of those who have suffered discriminatory treatment at the very hands of those tasked with providing them with an education and ensuring their safety within schools."
The letter went on to outline specific examples, the first being the story of Rochelle Hamilton, who was relentlessly