Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are we?
- What does a comprehensive non-discrimination policy say?
- Why do we need it?
- Isn't a generic anti-bullying policy good enough?
- Isn’t MSSC doing enough to protect LGBT students?
- Isn’t this special rights?
- Won’t this policy cost money or lead to expensive lawsuits?
- How do I get more involved?
1. Who are we?
The Mississippi Student Safety Coalition is led by students across Mississippi working to promote student safety through a number of educational strategies and policies. Such strategies can include urging Mississippi schools and communities to adopt comprehensive non-discrimination policies. Training coordinators, and developing local strategies to educate students on their constitutional rights is also needed. Members of the Mississippi Student Safety Coalition are working together with the LGBT Project of the American Civil Liberties Union to ensure that all students have access to public education that is safe and free from discrimination.
2. What does a comprehensive non-discrimination policy say?
“It is the policy of Mississippi Public Schools to afford all persons, regardless of their actual or perceived race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or gender, including gender identity, expression, and appearance, equal rights and opportunities in all of its educational institutions.”
3. Why do we need it?
Currently, Mississippi Public School policies do not protect students from being discriminated against because they are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), or for being “too masculine” or “too feminine.” Yet, study after study shows that LGBT students are among the most vulnerable populations in public high schools. 64.3% of students in one survey reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 40.7% felt unsafe at school because of how they expressed their gender.2 There is no reason to believe that students within Mississippi are free from this type of harassment and discrimination.
4. Isn’t a generic anti-bullying policy good enough?
No. Schools with comprehensive policies have been found to have “a more positive overall school climate,” while students themselves report “fewer incidents of harassment and bullying, fewer bias-related comments and less name-calling, greater feelings of safety, [and] improved connections to school, community, and supportive adults.”3 In addition, the proposed policy prohibits discrimination, not just bullying.
5. Aren't Mississippi Public Schools doing enough to protect LGBT students?
No. School districts across the country have passed comprehensive non-discrimination or anti-bullying policies including southern cities such as Memphis, Knoxville, Gainesville, St. Louis, and Little Rock. Moreover, over 1/3 of all states in the U.S. have either enacted or proposed legislation which protects students in schools on basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Mississippi public schools are behind the curve with regard to affirming the basic rights of all students. See Knox County Schools' Policy (PDF, ~2.2kb) and Memphis City Schools' Policy (PDF, ~.9kb).
6. Isn’t this special rights?
No. The right to freedom from violence, intimidation, and harassment in school is not a “special right.” In fact, this policy will protect students both gay and straight, as one study found that “80 percent of students harassed on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation were in fact heterosexual.”4
7. Won’t this policy cost money or lead to expensive lawsuits?
No. In fact, by failing to treat LGBT students equally under its policies, Mississippi public schools are exposing themselves to serious civil liability. School districts around the country have paid anywhere from $40,000 to over $1.1 million in settlements or judgments to LGBT students for not doing all they can to protect them.
8. How do I get more involved?
If you believe that school policies should establish a foundation for the respect of the dignity and rights of all students, please fill out our survey and tell us about your experiences, or anyone else you know, concerning harassment, embarassment, or discrimination based on sexual identity or gender non-conformity, whether actual or perceived.
Notes
1 Our coalition is not associated with any Mississippi Public School district.
2 The 2005 National School Climate Survey, conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
3 2005 National School Climate Survey, page 5. (See footnote 2)
4 Safe Place to Learn, a study of the "Consequences of Harassment Based on Actual or Perceived Sexual Orientation and Gender Non-Conformity and Steps for Making Schools Safer" conducted by the California Safe Schools Coalition and the 4-H Center for Youth Development at the University of California, Davis.