A significant percentage of students at the school and college level in Alaska identify as LGBTQ+. Schools and universities have increasingly been growing more inclusive and making genuine attempts to make students feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
But they don't always succeed. LGBTQ+ students are typically subjected to far more bullying, harassment, and microaggressions than gender-conforming heterosexual students, and educational institutions can fail to understand this or sometimes even be a part of the problem themselves.
This can lead to further problems, such as progression issues caused by bias and unfair treatment or discrimination relating to campus housing and other facilities. The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team can help you understand how to proceed if you have been discriminated against or treated unfairly. Our team has helped LGBTQ+ students nationwide understand their rights and uphold them when their university has acted unfairly.
If you have been facing issues at your school or university, call us at 888-535-3686 today or tell us about your concern using this form.
Issues Faced By LGBTQ+ Students in Alaska
Students at school or university can face a number of issues relating to academic progression, social issues, misconduct, or more. When it comes to LGBTQ+ students, facing discrimination, ridicule, or bullying can make these issues worse. Even though educational institutions try their best to make their campuses as discrimination-free as possible, there are still certain issues LGBTQ+ students are likely to encounter, such as bullying and harassment, discrimination, lack of adequate resources, and unfair treatment.
Bullying and Harassment
Whether in school or college, LGBTQ+ students are likely to face bullying or microaggressions. It is important to know that federal and local laws, as well as school regulations, prohibit bullying and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. However, your school may not succeed at upholding these rules and regulations, and you may still find yourself being bullied or harassed.
Being faced with bullying, slurs, harassment, or threats can seriously hamper your ability to attend classes safely and get the most out of your education.
Facing Discrimination by School Administrators or Peers
Despite multiple federal laws prohibiting discrimination, LGBTQ+ students can get harmed by unwarranted bias and hatred by teachers or other students. They may face unfair treatment by school administrators, face campus housing issues, not have access to gender-neutral bathrooms, be excluded from sports clubs or fraternities based on their sex or sexual orientation, or even be subjected to slurs.
Most educational institutions have diversity and inclusion statements that outline their lack of tolerance for discrimination and harassment. It can help to be familiar with your school or university's diversity statement, to know your rights, and to be aware of how they respond to such incidents.
If the educational institution does not uphold the rights granted to you by their own policies or by federal law, you may have to go beyond school administrative procedures and seek justice outside. This is where an education attorney from our firm can help you and make sure your rights are not violated.
What Rights Do You Have as an LGBTQ+ Student in Alaska?
It is important to be aware of the federal laws, local laws, and school policies that protect your rights as an LGBTQ+ student and ensure you are treated equally.
- Title IX: Title IX is a federal law preventing discrimination on the basis of sex, sexuality, or gender appearance. All educational institutions that receive federal funding must comply with Title IX and have a responsibility to prohibit, prevent, and punish sexual discrimination on their campuses.
- Equal Protection Clause: Both the US Constitution and the Alaska Constitution include the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits discriminatory practices against the LGBTQ+ community and other protected classes. If you feel your university is actively discriminating against you or treating you differently, you are entitled to make a complaint.
- University Inclusion Statements: Most schools and colleges in Alaska have their own diversity and inclusion statement, which outlines their policies regarding diverse students and states the behaviors that are prohibited. Typically, these statements give LGBTQ+ students the right to an education free of discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
Why Involve an Education Law Attorney
If you or your student are dealing with an issue involving LGBTQ+ rights at school, you are probably feeling targeted, angry, and maybe a little scared. Whether the issue involves unfair treatment by teaching instructors, bullying by your peers, sexual harassment, violence, threats, or something else – you are probably overwhelmed and unable to figure out what to do.
Not only can having an education law attorney from our team on your side be comforting and reassuring, but they can also help you understand how cases like yours usually play out and the steps you can take to obtain the best possible outcome.
You may not be very familiar with school regulations, state laws, and federal legislation, but an education law attorney can explain to you exactly what your rights are and how you can ensure they are upheld. They can also negotiate with the school authorities on your behalf, ensure your school acts fairly towards you, and accompany you to formal or informal hearings. With these kinds of issues, it is best to involve an experienced professional at the earliest.
The Lento Law Firm Can Help You
The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm has a vast amount of experience helping LGBTQ+ students in school and college contend with issues involving bullying, discrimination, unfair treatment, academic issues, and more, both in Alaska and nationwide.
Our team can help you create a plan of action, prepare you for formal and informal meetings with school administrators, and identify laws and regulations protecting your rights.
If you are an LGBTQ+ student facing education issues in Alaska, reach out to the Lento Law Firm today. Call us at 888-535-3686 today, or book a consultation with us.
