March 29, 2008

Californians: Help LGBT Youth Stay Safe

Email from The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center:

The DeFrank Center and Equality California need your urgent help to stop two bills in the Legislature that would take protections away from youth.

Anti-gay activists want to strip away safe schools protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth that we have worked long and hard to secure. The latest assault comes next week - when two anti-equality bills come before the Assembly Education Committee.

The DeFrank LGBT Community Center is joining Equality California in urging members of the California State Education Committee to stop these hateful attacks on LGBT students.

Take action now to oppose these two misguided bills.

Stop Assembly Bill 2085 (Huff)
AB 2085 would delete existing civil rights protections against discrimination in public school instruction based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and perceived gender (including gender identity) disability, nationality, race or ethnicity, and religion.

Stop Assembly Bill 2086 (Huff)
This bill would discourage schools from offering diversity programs that discuss sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Programs like Coming Out Week and the Day of Silence, which could be affected by this bill, are critical for fighting intolerance that often leads to harassment and violence against LGBT youth.

All students need and deserve school settings that are free from hate and discrimination. These spiteful bills must be stopped to protect our youth. Take action today.

Thank you for helping the DeFrank LGBT Center and EQCA stop unfair attacks on our equality and our youth. Please forward this to everyone you know and ask them to supprt the equailty and safe of youth in school.