Education Department Sends Schools Guidance on Gay-Straight Alliance Groups
Today, in a move announced last week, the Department of Education sent a letter to schools around the nation alerting them to their obligations under the Equal Access Act -- specifically as they relate to gay-straight alliances and other similar student organizations.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote that the act "requires public secondary schools to treat all student-initiated groups equally, regardless of the religious, political, philosophical, or other subject matters discussed at their meetings."
Specifically, he wrote, "Its protections apply to groups that address issues relating to LGBT students and matters involving sexual orientation and gender identity, just as they apply to religious and other student groups."
Duncan wrote that the Education Department's general counsel "is issuing a set of legal guidelines affirming the principles that prevent unlawful discrimination against any student-initiated groups. We intend for these guidelines to provide schools with the information and resources they need to help ensure that all students, including LGBT and gender nonconforming students, have a safe place to
