The Department of Education Moves to Stop Bullying of LGBT Students
It's about time. The United States Education Department has responded to the recent slew of highly-publicized suicides by bullied LGBT youth.
Mr. Change himself, President Obama, and his administration have launched a campaign aimed at eradicating anti-gay harassment in schools by reminding educators that federal law dictates protection from discrimination. The Education Department's Office of Civil Rights unleashed an advisory Tuesday that outlines how civil rights law relates to the recent gay teen suicides.
This news comes only a week after President Obama released his own "It Gets Better" video for LGBT youth.
"Our goal here is to provide school districts, colleges and universities with details about when harassment can rise to the level of a civil rights violation and what they should be doing about it," said Assistant Education Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn H. Ali, who wrote the advisory.
Ali used specific examples and scenarios on gay bullying as well as other types of discrimination, such as anti-Semitic sentiments and graffiti. It might all seem like a lot of talk, but the Department has warned that schools that do not comply with the civil rights law to protect gay students may miss out