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Title IX | National

In April of 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released a final rule that affirms that Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender status, and other sex-based characteristics and stereotypes.

This is a clear statement that federal law protects LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in public schools and that the Office of Civil Rights will investigate complaints.

The rule also reinstates broad protections and remedies for students who experience sex-based harassment, removing onerous complaint resolution procedures instituted by the prior administration, and providing much-needed updates regarding the rights of pregnant and parenting students.

Q&A

What does this new rule mean for my school?

The federal Department of Education has instructed all schools that receive federal funding to update or adopt policies that comply with these Title IX regulations.

When must my school/university implement the new Title IX regulations?

New Title IX regulations must be adopted by August 1, 2024

Who is better protected by the new regulations?

The final regulations provide greater clarity regarding: the definition of “sex-based harassment”; the scope of sex discrimination, including schools’ obligations not to discriminate based on sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and schools’ obligations to provide an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex (including LGBTQ+ students).

Does Title IX protect me as an LGBTQ+ student?

Yes! The rule prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics in federally funded education programs. The rule applies the reasoning of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender status is discrimination because of sex.

This means that schools must protect LGBTQ students from harassment and discrimination and cannot treat LGBTQ students differently from other students, including in sex-separated facilities – like access to bathrooms and locker rooms – and school programs.

Does the ruling say anything about transgender athletes?

The final regulations do not include specific language about sports.

However, several courts have said that banning all transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams or all transgender boys from playing on boys’ sports teams violates Title IX.

Are there exceptions to what Title IX covers?

Yes, there are some exceptions.

However, no one can be denied the benefits of the new regulations from educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance.

You can find further information regarding exemptions here.

State Laws and How to Get Help

  • It is important to note that in New England state laws also provide protections, sometimes greater than those at the federal level, and are often the first place to start when looking for support
    • You can find state-specific resources for dealing with bullying and harassment due to LGBTQ+ status or perceived status at schools here
  • If you have exhausted state-based resources or want to learn more about your rights under Title IX, you can find Title IX-specific information and resources here as well as the US Department of Education’s 2024 Ruling Fact Sheet here, where much of the information above has been pulled from
  • If you need more information or have questions about what to do if you or your child is experiencing discrimination, bullying, or harassment at school, contact GLAD Answers

A Note About Lawsuits Challenging the New Title IX Regulations

Some states that have passed anti-LGBTQ laws in recent years are currently challenging the new Title IX regulations in court.  However, no court rulings have yet been issued. Schools should be prepared to implement the new regulations by August 1, 2024.

Pride at School | National

Public schools have a responsibility to support and provide a positive environment for all students.

One way that they do this is by displaying support for LGBTQ+ students through Pride symbols and flags.

Public school administrators are legally required to provide the same rights to all students and student clubs under the Equal Access Act. So, for example, if the school allows students from other clubs to hang flags or banners, the school has a legal responsibility to allow their GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) to do the same.

At schools, school officials are able to create guidelines around displaying supportive flags and symbols. Just because they display supportive imagery does not mean that they also need to display offensive imagery if requested to do so. Schools do not need to worry about being forced to put up offensive banners, decorations, or other imagery.

This means schools can fly flags like the Black Lives Matter or Transgender Pride flags to show support for their students. Schools do NOT have to take down these flags, even if someone requests it as a hostile symbol.

What can schools do?

  • Keep up existing inclusive flags, signs, and posters.
  • Have school faculty meetings where school employees propose new inclusive displays.
  • Put up new inclusive displays to show support for their students.
  • Provide all student clubs with the same resources.

What should schools not do?

  • Schools should not create programs that allow private individuals to propose flag suggestions.
  • Schools should not let non-school employees put up displays.
  • Schools cannot allow only some groups of students to have clubs and exclude others.

College | National

Every student is entitled to equal educational opportunities and an environment that supports them. They also deserve to show up as and express their authentic selves, which includes having their proper name and pronouns used in classroom and administrative settings. For LGBTQ+ college students, this can prove difficult as there are no overarching policies or laws regarding name and pronoun usage at universities. Public universities often have more protections for LGBTQ+ students whereas private and religious educational institutions may follow different policies. Below you can find some information on best practices and ideas on how to best approach the subject with staff, professors, and administration. The links and resources provided were not compiled by GLAD and have not been vetted by GLAD.

Applying to LGBTQ+ Friendly Universities

Name & Pronoun Use and the Common App

Due to the Common App (a platform that allows students to use one college application to apply to several universities) asking students for their (preferred) names and pronouns, as of January 2022 over 900 universities across the US now have the ability to integrate the use of those names and pronouns, and over 200 universities directly use this information in their campus information systems.

Here you can find a list from August 2023 of The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students in the US. You can also use the Campus Pride Index.

Pronoun and Name Usage on Campus

Professors using your correct name and pronouns:

All students deserve to be treated with respect. One way professors can be respectful is by asking for and using students’ correct name and pronouns (even if they differ from what’s on the students’ records).

If you are being named incorrectly and misgendered here are some steps you can take to advocate for yourself:

  • Bring it up to the person misgendering or misnaming you. They may not be aware that they are doing so and might be able/willing to easily change this.
  • Share resources. You can find GLSEN’s Pronouns Guide here.
  • Start a conversation on campus and advocate for campus-wide change. Connect with Campus Pride to take their trainings and use their LGBTQ+ advocacy resources.
  • Go to the Title IX Office. Persistent, intentional misgendering is also something you can raise with the Title IX Office at your university.

Updating your preferred name and pronouns with the registrar’s office:

Some universities now give students the ability to update their name and pronoun information at the registrars’ office so as to not out trans students to their professors and other campus staff. Check out this example of a policy to update for preferred (not legal) names and pronouns from Berklee College of Music.

If your school does not have such a policy and/or is refusing to allow you to update your name and pronouns through the registrar’s office, you may be able to make a Title IX complaint. Title IX protects LGBTQ+ students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Read more about Title IX here.

Because of FERPA protections, if you are over 18, by law you are able to update your name and pronouns at your college without that information being shared with your parents, guardians, spouse, or financial benefactors.

Advocating for correct name and pronoun usage on campus:

Campus Pride has great advocacy trainings and resources for students.

University Policies, Best Practices, Etc.

Guides for universities looking to update their practices

Below, university administration, professors, and staff can find guides on supporting LGBTQ+ students in higher education:

GLAD Answers

If you’ve followed these steps and the situation has not resolved or is getting worse, please reach out to GLAD Answers. Complete the online intake form at GLADAnswers.org, email GLADAnswers@glad.org, or leave a voicemail at 800-455-GLAD.

School Resources | Youth | Connecticut

Schools are meant to be student-centered places where young people are safe and can learn what they need to succeed in life. Yet, extremist politicians and well-funded national groups are trying to make public schools and school libraries a site of attacks on LGBTQ+ people, especially youth, and families. 

Youth in Connecticut public schools still have rights, and our schools have a responsibility to ensure all students, including LGBTQ+ students, are safe, supported, and able to learn. GLAD and our partners are sharing these resources on your rights as a student, parent, and educator.

Find national resources and organizations here.

Connecticut Resources

Know Your Rights

Nondiscrimination: Along with other personal characteristics, Connecticut General Laws prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, and perceived sexual orientation in Connecticut public schools. You can find the law about “equal educational opportunity” and the characteristics protected from discrimination at GL Sec 10-25c. 

Anti-Bullying: Connecticut has strict anti-bullying requirements that schools must follow to protect students from a wide variety of bullying, be it physical, verbal, or online. You can find a comprehensive guide directed at parents here as well as updated versions of the law and information on the state’s ‘prevention and intervention’ strategy regarding bullying here. 

Guidance for Schools: The Connecticut State Department of Education has created guidance for schools on the Civil Rights Protections and Supports for Transgender Students. Learn more about this guide here. Advances in the law in this area are advancing rapidly. If you have specific questions about a particular matter, please contact an attorney.  

Learn more about youth rights in Connecticut on the following Know Your Rights pages:

What to do if you or your child is experiencing bullying, discrimination, or mistreatment in school

If you as a student are or your child is experiencing bullying at least in part because of an LGBTQ+ status or a perceived LGBTQ+ status, you can take steps under both state and federal law to remedy the situation. And you can pursue both avenues at the same time. 

Connecticut Anti-Bullying & Harassment Protections 

First, it is important to understand what Connecticut considers bullying or harassment. The State of Connecticut defines bullying as: an act that is direct or indirect and severe, persistent or pervasive, which (A) causes physical or emotional harm to an individual, (B) places an individual in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm, or (C) infringes on the rights or opportunities of an individual at school. “Bullying” shall include, but need not be limited to, a written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics; 

“Cyberbullying” means any act of bullying through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone or other mobile electronic devices or any electronic communications. 

Read more here. 

Second, consider whether you want to take action under the school’s anti-bullying or harassment policies, which should be available on the school or district website. If so, follow the steps from the school’s policies, keep copies/screenshots of emails and texts, and take notes of conversations with school staff to show that you have done what you are supposed to and that the school is on notice of your concerns.  

If the school is not investigating the bullying, press them to do so. “Connecticut school district safe school climate plans must incorporate a prevention and intervention strategy that may include, but is not limited to, implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports or other evidence-based model approaches, school rules prohibiting bullying, adult supervision of selected areas of school campuses, individual interventions with students involved in bullying incidents, school-wide school climate training, parent engagement strategies, and culturally-competent school-based curriculum.” Read more here under the heading “What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?” 


If you are not satisfied with the school’s response, consider filing a formal complaint as described here or in your school’s policy with your school’s principal as well as sending it to the superintendent, school board, etc. when applicable. Please note that this information is from December 2012 and the state of Connecticut is currently updating it.  

Another possibility is to contact HealthCare Advocates International which has an LGBTQ+ competency training program for CT schools that may be able to offer workshops the school administration and staff.  

GLSEN CT also works to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

You can find good student resources and updates regarding Health Services and Health Education from the state here. 

You may also choose to file a discrimination complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

US Harassment & Discrimination Protections for Students

Federal law is also a tool for addressing bullying and harassment.  When these behaviors are ignored or inadequately addressed, this may add up to discrimination or the denial of education opportunities based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, among other characteristics.   

You can raise concerns about your or your child’s experience of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, harassment, or other discrimination by contacting contact the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights in Boston to file a complaint. The OCR has the authority to investigate a complaint of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Note that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are aspects of “sex” discrimination.  

Contact the Office of Civil Rights. 

Harassment and bullying because of a person’s LGBTQ+ status likely also constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX protections. Read more about the US Department of Education’s updated guidance on Title IX.  

If you have questions about the specific situation you are experiencing or questions that have not been answered above, please reach out to GLAD Answers. 

Get involved in your local community

  • Follow the issues that come up in your school committee and town/city council
  • Attend meetings when important issues are being discussed and even to participate in the public comment period in which School Board/Committee members listen to input from the public.  It is important that they hear support for good work and good arguments for why LGBTQ+ and race-based restrictions are bad educational policy for all students.
  • Follow education, curriculum, staffing, policy, library and other issues in school board and local elections, or run for office yourself
  • For support in talking about issues related to education and LGBTQ+ students, and more ways to take action, visit Campaign for Our Shared Future.

Organizations and Additional Resources

Organizations

  • GLSEN Connecticut works to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities works to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state through advocacy and education.
  • Connecticut State Department of Education helps ensure equal opportunity and excellence in education for all Connecticut students.
  • OutCT is dedicated to building a community through educational, cultural and social programming that promotes acceptance, tolerance and understanding of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

For more youth-focused organizations, visit Youth Organizations | Connecticut.

Additional Resources

Connecticut State Department of Education | Guidance on Civil Rights Protections and Supports for Transgender Students — Guidance for Connecticut school districts on the rights, responsibilities and best educational practices for transgender and gender non-conforming students.

GLSEN | School Climate for LGBTQ Students in Connecticut — Connecticut findings from the GLSEN 2019 National School Climate Survey.

Want to learn more about LGBTQ+ Equality in Connecticut? Visit the Movement Advancement Project’s Connecticut Equality Profile.

GLAD Answers

Still have questions? Contact GLAD Answers for free and confidential legal information, assistance, and referrals. Complete the online intake form at GLADAnswers.org, email GLADAnswers@glad.org, or leave a voicemail at 800-455-GLAD.

Blog

By Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy

The ideological effort to roll back the clock on autonomy and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people and all women hit another milestone recently when the Alabama Supreme Court issued an alarming decision saying that frozen embryos are children, shutting down access to IVF in the state and sending shockwaves across the country. The resulting legislative “fix” in Alabama was no fix and further undermined hopeful parents and their efforts to build their families.

It was a staggeringly clear example of increasing efforts to control our lives and our most personal decisions: to cut off access to fertility healthcare, ban contraception, outlaw abortion in any form without exception, end access to critical healthcare for transgender people, preclude the formation of LGBTQ+ families, and even ban no-fault divorce and take the freedom to marry away from same-sex couples.

But as the outcry against that Alabama ruling shows, people across the country are saying no to that agenda of fear and control.

At GLAD, we are fighting alongside our partners and allies every day to protect our hard-won rights and push back against these attacks, so we can all live how we deserve to – freely, authentically, and joyfully.

In the past week alone, GLAD has:

  • Advocated in state houses for crucial shield bills to protect access to reproductive and transgender healthcare in Maine and Rhode Island, while we continue our federal legal challenges to bans on essential healthcare for transgender people in Alabama and Florida. These important bills would build on GLAD’s work to pass shield laws in Massachusetts (2022) and Vermont (2023).
  • Championed equitable coverage for fertility healthcare before multiple Connecticut legislative committees, so that Connecticut law reflects the standard of care ensuring LGBTQ+ people and single people on private insurance and Medicaid have access to the healthcare they need to build their families. GLAD was invited to appear with U.S. Senator Blumenthal to advocate not only for the Connecticut legislation but also for the federal Access to Family Building Act that seeks a national right to fertility healthcare.
  • Continued our work to update parentage laws in all states so that children of LGBTQ+ parents and children born through assisted reproduction are secure. We appeared in support of the Michigan Family Protection Act, which would repeal Michigan’s criminal ban on surrogacy and ensure protections for children born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy, in the state senate, and hope to see that bill, and a similar bill in Massachusetts, signed into law this session. As we see legislative and court actions put our families at risk, we must pass robust parentage bills like these to protect children and parents.
  • As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard arguments Monday in Braidwood v. Becerra, a case about whether health insurers will have to continue to cover highly effective preventatives like HIV PrEP without copays or deductibles, our friend-of-the-court brief warned that upholding the lower court’s ruling would result in tens of thousands of preventable new HIV cases. GLAD continues to advocate for legislation to remove barriers to PrEP and address the racial disparities in access, including making PrEP available through pharmacies and without insurance prior authorization requirements which create unnecessary delays.

The agenda of fear and control won’t win.

With your support today and in the days to come, together we can protect our access to essential healthcare, our right to build our families, and our freedom to make important, personal decisions about our own lives.

News you may have missed:

Boston Review: GLAD Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi and NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter in conversation about the decades-long fight for transgender rights

MassLive: Highlighting LGBTQ+ leaders in Massachusetts, including GLAD Director of Family Advocacy Polly Crozier and GLAD Board Member and CEO of TransHealth Dallas Ducar

Expanding Access to Fertility Care in Connecticut

UPDATE: On May 9, 2024, the Connecticut legislature closed without brining HB0524 and HB05378 to a floor vote. GLAD and our partners will continue to advocate for these crucial fertility access bills next session.

Current Connecticut law requires private insurance providers to cover fertility treatment only for people who meet a limited definition of “infertility” — one that excludes most people who are LGBTQ+ or single. Paying out-of-pocket for expensive fertility care, such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), is not accessible for most people who do not have fertility insurance coverage. This barrier disproportionately impacts people of color, particularly Black women who are more likely to suffer from infertility and experience other healthcare inequities.

HB0524 and HB05378 will expand access to fertility insurance coverage by updating the definition of infertility to encompass the many ways people build their families.

Trans Support & Advocacy | Transgender Rights | Connecticut

GLAD works alongside many great organizations that strive to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. Below you will find links to several organizations that work with transgender folks and their loved ones in Connecticut in a variety of areas. For further resources and referrals, please reach out to GLAD Answers by filling out our intake form. You can also email us at GLADAnswers@glad.org or leave a voicemail at 800-455-GLAD.

Criminal Justice | Resources for Incarcerated People | Connecticut

Sample Grievance

I, John/Jane Inmate, was harassed/threatened/physically attacked because of my sexual orientation by [name(s) of person(s) involved] on [date(s) that the act(s) took place].

When you write a grievance, be sure to include as much information as you can remember. Include in your complaint:

  • what happened
  • when it happened
  • who did it
  • where it happened
  • what was said by the attacker(s)—paraphrase if you do not remember the exact quote.
  • who saw it happen
  • why you think it happened

If you reported harassment to any prison official(s) previously, indicate who you told, when, and what they did or did not do about it.

Hartford Pride

Hartford Pride

Check out the GLAD resource table at Hartford Pride on September 14th!

Presented by CLARO, Hartford Pride Fest and Concert is a family-centered event showcasing entertainment, food, local businesses, giveaways, activities, and numerous community organizations.

Learn more

Blog

Expanding GLAD Answers’ Reach Where We’re Needed Most

GLAD Answers, GLAD’s legal information line, is busy. This year so far, we have a monthly average of 169 intakes, up from 130 per month in 2022. GLAD Answers staff can answer questions and support a high number of callers with the help of 20 GLAD Answers volunteers.

Intakes per month so far this calendar year:

January

170

February

135

March

197

April

144

May

181

June

205

July

168

August

155

September

123

From January to September, callers have needed support in the following areas:

Issue areasNumber of intakes
ID Project271
Treatment In Prison193
Violence/Harassment122
Medical Care/Access86
Employment67
Housing57
Immigration/Asylum53
GLAD Answers Coordinator Kayden Hall and Public Information Manager Gabrielle Hamel

The team, GLAD Answers Coordinator Kayden Hall and Public Information Manager Gabrielle Hamel, holds a volunteer training every six months. We just held our latest training in September with six new volunteers joining fourteen dedicated others who have stayed with us from the previous year. These committed folks who donate their time respond to emails, phone calls, and online intakes, and provide resources and information to those in need.

Our next volunteer training will take place in the spring. You can sign up now!

With so many wonderful volunteers, we are working to expand our reach to ensure everyone who GLAD Answers can help is aware of this free resource, particularly low-income and Black and Brown communities, as well as regions outside greater Boston. We invite you to share information about GLAD Answers with those in your community who may have questions about their legal rights or need information about addressing anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

This story was originally published in the Fall 2023 GLAD Briefs Newsletter, Read more.

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