Senator Franken introduces Student Non-Discrimination Act

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

On Monday, July 13, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) spoke with Chris Hayes from MSNBC about a measure he's been working on for years to help stop the bullying of LGBT children in schools. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would protect students from discrimination based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

His measure, introduced as an amendment to the federal education system, would extend the same protections to LGBT students that are already granted to students on the basis of race, gender, and disability status.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes asked in his report, “Why do you want to see federal law on this?”

Sen. Franken replied, “This has become an epidemic. Today I gave a speech on this on the floor and showed the pictures of three boys, a 15-year-old, a 13-year-old, and an 11-year-old who had committed suicide because they were being bullied, harassed, and taunted at school. Thirty percent of LGBT students report that they have missed a day of school in the last 30 days because they were afraid, and it's hard to learn when you dread going to school. We're now taking up an education bill on the floor of the senate and I have a bill, the Student Non-Discrimination Act.”

The U.S. Senate voted on the Student Non-Discrimination Act, to explicitly protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students in public schools across the country. While the amendment fell short of the required 60-vote threshold, it garnered the support of 52 senators, including seven Republicans.

“It is disappointing that the Senate failed to act to explicitly protect LGBT children in our nation’s public schools from discrimination. What could be more commonsense?” said Ian Thompson, legislative representative of the American Civil Liberties Union. “It is, however, encouraging that a bipartisan majority of senators came together in support of the idea that all children, regardless of who they are, deserve the right to learn in an environment that is safe and free from the fear of discrimination looming over their heads.

“The fight for explicit protection for LGBT students under federal law will continue.”

Thompson also said in the meantime, the Departments of Education and Justice must continue to use their existing legal authority to protect LGBT students from discrimination and harassment.

“We thank Sen. Franken for his ongoing leadership in ensuring that no student is treated differently at school simply because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” said GLSEN Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard. “It is extremely disappointing that Student Non-Discrimination Act did not pass today. The federal government has an established role in protecting students from discrimination based on sex, race and religion. We call on Congress to codify non-discrimination protections into law for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The evidence is clear and compelling that LGBT students need those protections.”

The Gayly – August 3, 2015 @ 7:10am.