Know Your Rights: Students in Higher Education & the First Amendment
Civil Liberties Union
Whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, gender nonconforming, or any other sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBTQ), you have the right to be yourself at school, and your school has an obligation to protect you from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. New York State law requires that every public school have a trained staff member whom you can go to if you are being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against. You shouldn’t have to fear going to school, using a locker room or restroom, or standing up for your rights at school. Knowing your rights is the first step to building an inclusive school climate.
This KYR is not a replacement for legal advice.
gender expression – Behavior, clothing, hair, and other characteristics that are relatively observable and strongly associated with gender in our culture. A person’s gender expression might conform to norms associated with the person’s gender or it might not.
gender identity – A person’s internal, deeply held sense of their gender. For example, gender identity can refer to, but is not limited to, the identities of “male,” “female,” “androgynous,” “nonbinary” “genderqueer” and many others. Gender identity can also be a combination thereof.
gender non-conforming – Typically used to describe someone whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity. Not all gender non-conforming people identify as transgender. Many transgender people have gender expressions that are conventionally masculine or feminine, and many cisgender people do not.
non-binary – A term used to refer to genders that are not solely male or female: someone who is non-binary may have more than one gender, no gender, or their gender may not be in relation to the gender binary. Non-binary is also sometimes used as an umbrella term for all people who do not identify as consistently or exclusively male or female, whether they identify as non-binary or whether they use another term such as genderqueer, agender, gender fluid, or something else. Nonbinary genders are just as real and valid as other genders.
transgender or trans – People with a gender identity that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. Some transgender people undergo social transition (e.g. change their name, pronouns, clothing, hair), or medical treatment (e.g. hormones, surgical procedures) to bring their bodies into alignment with their identity and needs. However, not all transgender people want to or can take those steps. Transgender identity is not dependent on appearance or medical procedures. Like all people, transgender people have a gender irrespective of medical intervention, or have no gender.
GLSEN
GLSEN is the leading education organization working to create safe and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 schools through organizing, public policy and curriculum development. www.glsen.org info@glsen.org 212-727-0135
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386
True Colors United
True Colors United is an American non-profit organization addressing the issue of youth homelessness in the United States. www.truecolorsunited.org 212-461-4401
List of LGBTQ Centers in New York
For a list of LGBTQ-related centers and organizations, visit: https://www.lgbtcenters.org/LGBTCenters/State/65/New-York
Testing.com
For information on STD testing and prevention for teens, visit: https://www.testing.com/std-testing/prevention-and-education-resource-fo…
If you or your friends are being harassed, bullied, or discriminated against at school based on your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and your school is not doing something to stop the harassment, bullying, or discrimination, you can reach out to the NYCLU for help.
Call 212-607-3300
Email us at schools@nyclu.org
Visit www.nyclu.org
Mail us a letter at 125 Broad Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004
To find a list of NYCLU chapter offices in your region, visit www.nyclu.org/regions.