If you are an LGBTQ+ student or the parent of an LGBTQ+ student, you know that gender-nonconforming students often face several issues in school and lack supportive resources, including skilled advocates. Whether you are a Connecticut K-12, college, or graduate student, or the parent of them, you deserve to have your rights protected. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or submit our online form to discuss your options with a dedicated education law attorney.
Common Issues Face LGBTQ+ Students From K-12 to College
In nearly every school in Connecticut, as well as nationwide, LGBTQ+ students of all ages face mistreatment from students, teachers, or staff. Widespread challenges facing Connecticut students and scholars from kindergarten to college include:
Bullying and Harassment
LGBTQ+ students are frequently the targets of physical aggression, threats, and intimidation, social exclusion, inappropriate sexual comments, or hate speech. Such mistreatment can occur in person or online.
Discrimination
Gay, transgender, and other LGBTQ+ learners may experience discrimination when school policies are not uniformly applied. Such students may receive unfair punishment for protected speech, such as wearing clothing/makeup to school, holding protests on campus, and using meeting spaces for student groups that represent LGBTQ+ students' interests. Educational institutions can also fail to take proper action in response to students' reports of bullying and harassment.
Lack of Resources
Gender-nonconforming students often lack resources from their educational institutions to effectively progress through their academic careers. LGBTQ+ students may lack important resources needed to thrive in school, including lack of access to gender-neutral or gender-appropriate bathrooms, private spaces, and other facilities; lack of on-campus student alliances; and insufficient training for faculty and staff to support LGBTQ+ students in dealing with their issues and concerns.
Know Your Rights as an LGBTQ+ Student in Connecticut
To handle the issues both common and unique to LGBTQ+ learners, gender minority students and their parents must stay informed on LGBTQ+ laws and policies that may impact their rights.
Connecticut State Law
The Connecticut General Statutes protects the civil rights of LGBTQ+ students in public schools and provides for their equal access to LGBTQ+ educational programs and activities – without discrimination based on gender identity or expression - so that gender nonconforming students may pursue their education in a safe and inclusive learning environment.
School Policies and Statements
Whether your school is public or private, schools and school districts may issue policies and statements that provide more protection than Connecticut state law offers. Schools and colleges often have an official statement on inclusion, commonly referred to as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement, that prohibits unfair treatment of LGBTQ+ students.
Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title IX protects students of publicly funded schools, colleges, and universities from sex discrimination, and the U.S. Department of Education has interpreted Title IX to include protections based on gender identity and orientation. The Biden Administration's new Title IX Rules, effective August 2024, explicitly include protections on gender identity and sexual orientation applicable to LGBTQ+ students. If you are a college or university student or a parent of them, you may have protections under this federal law, as most higher education institutions receive public funding.
The above list is not exhaustive. You may have additional rights and protections depending on the facts of your case. The Lento Law Firm Team stands ready to advise and defend you.
How the Lento Law Firm Can Help LGBTQ+ Students in Connecticut
The Education Attorneys at the Lento Law Firm support LGBTQ+ students across the country and are committed to protecting Connecticut LGBTQ+ students from misconduct of all kinds while helping students and families navigate complex legal and school bureaucracies. Our Student Defense attorneys represent LGBTQ+ students in defending against wrongful accusations by peers, instructors, and school officials, including gathering evidence, recommending strategic actions, preparing students for discussions and hearings, and pursuing all legal avenues for a favorable outcome, including appeals.
Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn how we defend LGBTQ+ students' rights.
