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Quels sont mes droits en tant qu’étudiant LGBTQ+ ?

All Massachusetts public school students have the right:

  • Pour être en sécurité à l’école sans être victime d’intimidation,
  • To access information about LGBTQ subjects including educational website,
  • S'habiller et se présenter d'une manière cohérente avec son identité de genre,
  • À la liberté d'expression. Cela signifie que vous avez le droit d'exprimer des idées susceptibles d'offenser autrui et d'être en désaccord avec autrui, à condition de les exprimer de manière respectueuse.

All Massachusetts public and many private school students have the right:

  • To be protected from discrimination or harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or HIV status,
  • To form a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) that gets treated the same as every other non-curricular group.  This means equal funding, access to facilities, and the ability to choose your group’s name.

Outside of school you have the right:

  • Être protégé contre toute discrimination fondée sur votre orientation sexuelle réelle ou perçue, votre statut VIH ou votre identité de genre dans l’emploi, le logement et les lieux publics (comme les restaurants ou les magasins).
  • To give your own consent to get tested for HIV without your parents’ permission. For more specific information, see the “HIV/AIDS” Issue Area.
  • Signaler à la police toute personne, à l’intérieur ou à l’extérieur de l’école, qui vous fait du mal physiquement, vous menace ou vandalise vos biens.

Can people under 18 access PrEP for HIV prevention without informing their parents?

Yes. If you are under 18 and sexually active, Massachusetts law enables you to access HIV-preventative medication (PrEP) from a healthcare provider or health clinic without needing the consent of a parent or legal guardian. State law ensures the privacy of young people to receive PrEP, or any other HIV prevention therapy, and medical providers can’t share that with anyone, including your parents, without your written consent. For more information, visit PrEP for Minors.

 

Does Massachusetts have a law to protect students from bullying?

Yes. Massachusetts has one of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country. It has strict requirements that schools must follow to protect students from a wide variety of bullying, be it physical, verbal, or online. Many of these requirements apply to tous schools, whether public, private, or charter. Some of the key provisions of the law include:

  • Every school, with the exception of some private schools, must have in place a comprehensive anti-bullying policy;
  • Each plan shall recognize that certain students may be more vulnerable to becoming a target of bullying or harassment based on actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, including gender identity or expression and sexual orientation or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics. The plan shall include the specific steps that each school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school shall take to support vulnerable students and to provide all students with the skills, knowledge and strategies needed to prevent or respond to bullying or harassment.
  • A student’s parents or guardians must be notified if the school learns that they have been bullied;
  • Teachers and other school staff must receive training on how to handle bullying and are required to report bullying to the administration;
  • Each school must teach students about bullying.

For detailed information about the requirements for the anti-bullying plan each school must have, visit the Department of Education’s website.

Does Massachusetts have guidance schools should follow to protect transgender students?

Yes, Massachusetts has created guidance for schools on the rights, responsibilities and best educational practices for transgender and gender non-conforming students.

The guidelines include the following:

  • Les écoles doivent respecter le nom et les pronoms d’un élève transgenre ;
  • Les écoles doivent respecter la vie privée des élèves transgenres en ce qui concerne toute information médicale, nom précédent, etc.
  • Le nom et le sexe figurant dans le dossier d’un étudiant doivent être conformes à l’identité de genre de l’étudiant ;
  • Les étudiants transgenres devraient pouvoir utiliser les toilettes, les vestiaires et les vestiaires qui correspondent à leur identité de genre ;
  • Dans toutes les activités séparées selon le sexe (y compris les activités sportives), les étudiants transgenres devraient pouvoir participer d’une manière compatible avec leur identité de genre.

Learn more about this guidance.

Does the Massachusetts have anti-discrimination laws that protect students?

Yes, Chapter 76, Section 5 of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, and perceived sexual orientation in all Massachusetts schools which accept students from the general public, regardless of whether the discrimination comes from students or employees.

Similarly, Chapter 151C, which defines fair educational practices, prohibits sexual harassment by public school teachers, staff, or other students. Violations of this law can be brought to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), a state agency that does not require the parties to have a lawyer. For more information on Massachusetts anti-discrimination law and how to file a discrimination complaint, see the “Discrimination” Issue Area.

Schools are also required to take certain steps to prevent the harassment of LGBTQ students, per the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 603 CMR 26.00, Access to Equal Educational Opportunity. In particular, the Code requires that schools have policies in place to ensure discrimination and harassment complaints are investigated promptly and also requires schools to educate staff annually on harassment prevention and appropriate methods of responding to harassment in a school environment.

Existe-t-il des lois fédérales qui protègent les étudiants ?

Yes, Title IX prohibits discrimination against students based on sex in any school or college that receives federal funds. In light of the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which determined that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are forms of sex discrimination, the federal Department of Education, which enforces Title IX, has stated that it will interpret any sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination as sex discrimination.

To file a complaint with the federal Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, visit their webpage.

Les plaintes peuvent être déposées auprès du coordinateur du Titre IX de votre école, ainsi qu'auprès de :

Bureau des droits civils
Le ministère américain de l'Éducation
Bureau de poste et palais de justice John W. McCormack, salle 222
Place de la Poste
Boston, MA 02109

De plus, certains types de discrimination et de harcèlement peuvent violer les droits constitutionnels d’un étudiant.

Que puis-je faire si je suis victime de discrimination ou d’intimidation à l’école ?

There are many ways to approach the issue. One is to ask for support from a friend, teacher or counselor and talk to the people who are bothering you. That is not an option, however, if you don’t feel safe doing so.

Take a look at your school policies and notify whoever is supposed to be notified — usually a vice principal or Title IX coordinator. You should document any incidents of harassment or discrimination in writing with at least the date and time. Once you meet with the right officials, write yourself notes about what you told them and on what date and ask when they will be getting back to you with a response. If they don’t help you or don’t follow through, you may wish to write to the principal and superintendent and ask for them to end the discrimination.

If this fails, you may also wish to consider legal action against the town by contacting the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or the federal Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

Il s'agit d'un domaine juridique complexe et éprouvant sur le plan émotionnel. Contactez GLAD Answers en remplissant le formulaire à l'adresse suivante : GLADAnswers.org or by phone at 800-455-GLAD (4523) to discuss options.

Do students have the right to form Gay/Straight Alliances in their schools?

Oui, pour les lycéens ; probablement pour les collégiens. Une loi fédérale, connue sous le nom d'« Equal Access Act », exige que tous les établissements secondaires financés par le gouvernement fédéral offrent un accès égal aux activités extrascolaires. Dès lors qu'un établissement dispose d'au moins un club extrascolaire géré par des élèves, il doit autoriser la création d'autres clubs et leur garantir un accès égal aux espaces de réunion, aux installations et au financement, sans discrimination fondée sur l'objectif du club, qu'il soit religieux, philosophique, politique ou autre (20 USC § 4071).

Does Massachusetts have a law that bans conversion therapy?

Yes, in 2019 Massachusetts passed a law banning any practice by a health care provider that attempts or purports to impose change of an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Les organisations médicales, de santé mentale et de protection de l'enfance, étatiques et nationales, s'opposent toutes à la pratique de la thérapie de conversion, qui vise à modifier l'orientation sexuelle ou l'identité de genre d'une personne. De nombreuses publications professionnelles démontrent que cette pratique est inefficace pour modifier l'orientation sexuelle ou l'identité de genre et qu'elle est néfaste pour les jeunes. Les jeunes ayant suivi une thérapie de conversion présentent un risque accru de dépression, de pensées et de tentatives de suicide, ainsi que de consommation de drogues illicites.

Under the law’s provisions, a healthcare provider who violates this section shall be subject to discipline by the appropriate licensing board. Such discipline may include suspension or revocation of their license.

Resources

Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies | StopBullying.gov

Children’s Issues Series: Anti-Bullying Laws | Mass Legal Services

Bullying Prevention and Intervention | Massachusetts Department of Education

Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students | Mass.gov

Title IX Protects Students from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | U.S. Department of Education

Legal Guidelines Regarding the Equal Access Act | U.S. Department of Education (this link will download a Word document to your computer)

FAQ About Equal Access Act | ACLU of Washington

Massachusetts Youth Resources:

If you are involved with the Department of Children and Families:

You have the right to be treated with care and respect and to be affirmed for who you are.

You have the right to safe and appropriate placements in the child welfare system, free from discrimination and harassment based on your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

You have the right to be free from harassment and abuse based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in foster care placements. This means that you should be protected from both physical and emotional harm in placements and should be placed with caretakers who will ensure your safety and wellbeing outside the home.

You have the right to be open about your sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

You have the right to be identified by the name and pronouns that accord with your gender identity and to wear clothing consistent with your gender identity.

Massachusetts law protects you from having a therapist try to change your sexual orientation or gender identity.

You have the right to equal treatment and to access appropriate services for your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression while in the child welfare system.

You must have access to appropriate medical or mental health care.

You should be treated equally to heterosexual and gender-conforming youth, including about age-appropriate displays of affection.

You should have access to supportive materials and resources, including GSAs at schools and community support groups.

You have the right to an attorney, and your attorney should affirm you and advocate for you.  You also have the right to fire your attorney and request a new attorney.

Resources

The Massachusetts DCF has an LGBTQ Guide that has information and resources.

There are LGBTQ liaisons at DCF who can help you find resources. To be connected with one, contact the State Co-Chair of LGBTQ Liaisons, Effie Molina.

Le Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth has resources, including a map of affirming providers.

Contact the Child Advocate who can help you if you are having a problem in DCF care or custody

Get more information and legal help

GLAD Answers for the LGBTQ Community. Speech bubble with envelope, phone, and chat symbols.

Pour plus d'informations sur vos droits et protections, et pour des références, vous pouvez contacter Réponses GLAD, GLAD’s free and confidential legal information line. Votre ressource sur les droits juridiques LGBTQ et VIH !

Updated May 2022