Know Your Rights, NH Students!

What are my rights as an LGBTQ+ student?

All New Hampshire public school students have the right:

• To be safe in school without being bullied,
• To be protected from discrimination or harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
• To access information about LGBTQ+ subjects including educational websites,
• To dress and present yourself in a manner consistent with your gender identity,
• To free speech and expression. This means you have the right to express ideas that may offend other people and you have the right to disagree with others, as long as you express those ideas in a respectful way.

All New Hampshire public and many private school students have the right:

• To form a Genders & Sexualities or Gay/Straight Alliance or 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:

• To be protected from discrimination based on your actual or perceived sexual orientation, HIV status, or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations (like restaurants or stores).
• If you are over the age of 14, to give your own consent to get tested for HIV without your parents’ permission. For more specific information, see the “HIV/AIDS” Issue Area.
• To report to the police anyone in or out of school who physically harms you, threatens you, or vandalizes your property.

Are there any laws protecting gay and transgender students from bullying in New Hampshire?

Yes. In 2010, the New Hampshire General Court enacted a revision to the Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act that specifically recognized that pupils who are LGBTQ+ or perceived to be LGBTQ+ are one of the groups that have historically been targeted for bullying. New Hampshire now has one of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country.

The 2010 law requires that each school district and charter school adopt a written policy prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying that includes:

• a procedure for reporting the bullying;
• a procedure for notifying the parents or guardian of a victim within 48 hours of the incident report that can be waived if the school feels that doing so is in the best interests of the victim or perpetrator;
• a procedure for investigating the incident in a timely manner, and, for any substantiated incident of bullying, the school must create a remediation plan that may include appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator, steps to reduce future incidents or retaliation and, if appropriate, offer assistance to the victim or perpetrator. The remediation plan must also be communicated to the parents or guardians of all the students involved in the incident;
• a plan for communicating, training, and educating students, staff, and parents about the anti-bullying policy.

You can find detailed information about New Hampshire’s anti-bullying law here: Bullying & Cyber-Bullying | Department of Education

Nhà trường có thể điều chỉnh chính sách chống bắt nạt bên ngoài khuôn viên trường không?

Yes, the U.S. Supreme Court in Khu học chánh Mahanoy Area v. BL in addition to concluding that students have broad speech and expression rights outside of school, also stated:

“Circumstances that may implicate a school’s regulatory interests [outside school] include serious or severe bullying or harassment targeting particular individuals; threats aimed at teachers or other students . . .”

Does New Hampshire have guidance schools should follow to protect transgender students?

Yes, in 2015 the New Hampshire School Boards Association created a model policy for school districts to follow to protect transgender and gender non-conforming students. See: JBAB – TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING STUDENTS.

The model policy includes the following:

• Nhà trường phải tôn trọng tên và đại từ của học sinh chuyển giới;
• Nhà trường phải tôn trọng quyền riêng tư của học sinh chuyển giới liên quan đến thông tin y tế, tên trước đây, v.v.;
• Tên và giới tính trong hồ sơ của học sinh phải phù hợp với nhận dạng giới tính của học sinh;
• Học sinh chuyển giới phải được sử dụng nhà vệ sinh, phòng thay đồ và phòng thay đồ phù hợp với bản dạng giới của mình;
• Trong bất kỳ hoạt động nào phân biệt giới tính (bao gồm cả thể thao), học sinh chuyển giới phải được phép tham gia theo cách phù hợp với bản dạng giới của mình.

Unfortunately, as of 2020 only 48 of the 196 school districts and charter schools have adopted such a plan, according to a report by the New Hampshire ACLU: The Case for Lived Equality in the Classroom

Does the New Hampshire anti-discrimination law also protect public school students?

Yes, New Hampshire law Section 354-A:27 states:

“No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in public schools because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion or national origin. . .”

For more information about the New Hampshire anti-discrimination law and how to file a discrimination complaint, see the “Discrimination” Issue Area.

Are there federal laws that protect students?

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, see:  How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.

Bạn có thể khiếu nại với điều phối viên Chương trình IX của trường mình, cũng như:

Văn phòng Dân quyền
Bộ Giáo dục Hoa Kỳ
Bưu điện và Tòa án John W. McCormack, Phòng 222
Quảng trường Bưu điện
Boston, MA 02109

Ngoài ra, một số hình thức phân biệt đối xử và quấy rối có thể vi phạm quyền hiến định của học sinh.

Tôi có thể làm gì nếu bị phân biệt đối xử hoặc bắt nạt ở trường?

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.

Hãy xem xét các chính sách của trường và thông báo cho người được yêu cầu thông báo - thường là phó hiệu trưởng hoặc điều phối viên Chương trình IX. Bạn nên ghi lại bất kỳ sự cố quấy rối hoặc phân biệt đối xử nào bằng văn bản, ít nhất phải ghi rõ ngày tháng và thời gian. Sau khi gặp đúng cán bộ, hãy ghi chú lại những gì bạn đã nói với họ, vào ngày nào và hỏi khi nào họ sẽ phản hồi lại cho bạn. Nếu họ không giúp bạn hoặc không thực hiện, bạn có thể viết thư cho hiệu trưởng và giám đốc nhà trường để yêu cầu họ chấm dứt hành vi phân biệt đối xử.

If this fails, you may also wish to consider legal action against the town by contacting the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights or the federal Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

Đây là một lĩnh vực pháp lý phức tạp và cũng đầy thách thức về mặt cảm xúc. Hãy liên hệ với GLAD Answers bằng cách điền vào mẫu email tại Câu trả lời GLAD hoặc qua điện thoại số 800-455-4523 (GLAD) để thảo luận về các lựa chọn.

Do students have the right to form Genders & Sexualities or Gay/Straight Alliances in their schools?

Yes, as to high school students; probably, as to middle school students. A federal law known as the “Equal Access Act” requires that all federally funded secondary schools provide equal access to extra-curricular clubs. So long as a school has at least one student-led extra-curricular club, it must allow additional clubs to organize, and must provide them with equal access to meeting spaces, facilities, and funding without discriminating based on a club’s purpose, be that purpose religious, philosophical, political, or otherwise (20 U.S.C. § 4071).

Does New Hampshire have a law that bans conversion therapy?

Yes, in 2018 New Hampshire passed N.H. Rev. Stat. § 332-L which prohibits any licensed mental health professional from performing conversion therapy on a minor.

State and national medical, mental health, and child welfare organizations all oppose the practice of conversion therapy, a practice that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Extensive professional literature shows the practice to be both ineffective in changing sexual orientation or gender identity and harmful to youth. Young people who have been subjected to conversion therapy are at increased risk of depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, and illegal drug use.

Under the law’s provisions, any licensed health professional who practices conversion therapy would be subject to discipline by the appropriate licensing agency.

RESOURCES FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH:

More information about New Hampshire’s anti-bullying law: Bullying & Cyber-Bullying | Department of Education

More information about freedom from discrimination in education: Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workplaces and Education

Title IX Protects Students from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: US Department of Education Confirms Title IX Protects Students from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Legal Guidelines Regarding the Equal Access Act: Legal Guidelines Regarding the Equal Access Act and the Recognition of Student-Led Non-Curricular Groups (MS Word).

FAQ About Equal Access Act: EAA FAQs

News Hampshire LGBTQ+ Youth Resources: New Hampshire LGBTQ+ Youth and Families Resource Guide

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) (LGBTQ Youth Services)

LGBTQ National Help Center Talk line: (800) 246-7743

 

GET MORE INFORMATION AND LEGAL HELP

For more information about your rights and protections, and for referrals, you can contact Câu trả lời GLAD, GLAD’s free & confidential legal information line. Your LGBTQ and HIV legal rights resource!

May 2022