The Rights of LGBTQ+ and Gender-Diverse Students

Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is illegal. Courts have increasingly recognized the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, as well as students who are nonbinary or gender-nonconforming (sometimes referred to as “gender-expansive”). Students who are LGBTQ+ or gender-expansive have the right to be their full, authentic selves and to be free from any bullying, stigma, or harassment in school. Under the law, schools have a duty to intervene and correct policies or practices that discriminate against students based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. [PDF] (August 2025)