Plaintiffs from Washington High School
High School Students Fight Back Against Hate
"Sinner." "Unholy." "Hated." "Wrong."
These are some of the words David Ramirez, Maria Gomez and other students who are (or are perceived to be) lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender have been called by their teachers at Washington Preparatory High School. Teachers and staff have also called them derogatory terms, and there have been no repercussions from administrators. Last year, Maria was told by a teacher that her "ways were wrong." The same teacher sent a letter to her parents with the purpose of "outing" her. These are a few of the conditions documented in the ACLU's recent suit against Los Angeles Unified School District demanding improvements.
"I was very upset to have to explain the letter to my mother, because I had just talked to her about my sexuality and that was difficult and uncomfortable to do," said Maria, a senior.
David was punished by school administrators and school security for kissing a boy, even though school officials ignore public displays of affection from heterosexual student couples. David and his partner were humiliated and taunted by school administrators, security guards, and deans who replayed a surveillance tape of them kissing and asked the boys which one of them was the "girl" in the relationship. They were also told that they were not supposed to be "like that."
"I felt angry because it was not right for them to humiliate us and treat us like we had done something wrong," said David, a senior. "To make it worse, my boyfriend and I were suspended for two days, even though the school doesn't punish straight couples for kissing on campus."
In late October 2004, the ACLU/SC, ACLU National Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of the students and Gay-Straight Alliance Network against the LAUSD, Washington Preparatory High School administrators, teachers, and security guards for the illegal harassment and discrimination.
"No student should go to school feeling unsafe from harassment of any sort," said Catherine Lhamon, staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California. "But what makes this case particularly troubling is that the harassment came from school administrators, teachers, and security guards among others. Students have no recourse when the school bully wears a security guard's uniform or happens to be the homeroom teacher."
"It's time that lesbian, gay and bisexual students are treated fairly and with respect on campus," said Maria. "I want to know that teachers will be supportive of all students, regardless of their sexual orientation." B
FEBRUARY 2005
Download Issue as PDF
Governor Proposes Budget with Deep Cuts, Harsh Real-Life Consequences
High School Students Fight Back Against Hate
LAPD Officer Shoots and Kills Youth in South Los Angeles
California Expands Domestic Partnership Rights
Civil Rights & International Human Rights Advocate to Lead ACLU/SC
State Legislative Preview: Beyond the Budget
ACLU Takes Aggressive Stance on Torture and Detentions
