Equality in North Carolina Schools, No Matter What

What do you do when you have a problem at school? Do you talk to a teacher? Do you talk to a guidance counselor? What if someone were to threaten you because you were of a different race or religion? You’d tell someone. You’d make sure that the prejudice against you wasn’t acted upon. Why? Because it’s not right.

To threaten someone with bodily harm, whether or not there is intention to actually carry out the threat, based on race or religion or social status is absolutely not acceptable.

But what if you were threatened because you were gay or lesbian? What if you were harassed because of your bisexuality? What if you were denied basic rights because you were transgender? Would it be different? Would you simply keep quiet?

Issues of sexuality and gender-identity are not specifically addressed in North Carolina School Laws. Though there is a general safety policy protecting all students, issues relating specifically to your sexuality or gender may not apply.

So what do you do? How do you make it equal for everyone, despite sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, religion, social standing or identity? You specify the rules. You add “due to race, religion, sexuality, gender, or other factors” to the end of the harassment and bullying policies. You make hate-crimes absolutely unacceptable.

How do you do that? First off, you can sign this petition. It is moving to make sexuality and gender-identity or expression part of the hate crimes policy with in North Carolina public schools. It takes a stand on your behalf. So stand with us.

Let North Carolina legislators know that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students have rights too and that those rights need to be included within policy. Help us bring equality to North Carolina schools.

Please see http://sbepolicy.dpi.state.nc.us/policies/SS-A-007.asp?pri=03&cat=A&pol=007&acr=SS for exact policy text.