Urging the Department of Education to Support LGBTQ+ Students
On August 23, 2022 the Campaign for Southern Equality’s Supportive Schools Director Craig White submitted a comment urging the Department of Education to approve as written the proposed rule Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. “There are LGBTQ children and youth in every community and every school in the South, and yet only a handful of school districts have passed proactive policies to protect and support LGBTQ+ students,” he wrote.
Knowing Your Rights & How to Fight for Them
Schools should be safe places where every student is treated with respect and receives a quality education. And yet, in 2021 and 2022 schools were once again being dragged into the culture wars, even as they faced real challenges related to being under-resourced, under-staffed, and grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Against that backdrop, it is critical that LGBTQ+ students, staff and faculty know your rights under the law and how to stand up for them. This series of blog posts, published in January 2022, shares insight for students, faculty/staff, and administrators.
Summits and Conferences
In this dynamic time for organizing and advocacy for equality in the schools, coming together for support and learning is critical. In 2019, CSE worked with Youth OUTright WNC to organize a GSA Summit for LGBTQ+ student groups and leaders and educators in Western North Carolina. We offer an opportunity to seek Southern Equality Fund support for GSA gatherings in other regions. Our staff also travel to present on advocacy efforts and school best practices at conferences around the South.
Protecting Young People from ‘Conversion Therapy’
The Campaign for Southern Equality drives action and engagement around legislation at the state and federal level, including a specific push to protect young people from anti-LGBTQ ‘conversion therapy.’ In March 2019 we partnered with Equality NC to launch Protect Our Youth NC, and in August 2019 we celebrated as Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order cutting off public funding to the discredited, dangerous practice.
