History & Mission

of The Massachusetts Governor's
Commission on Gay & Lesbian Youth

History:
by David LaFontaine, Chair of the Commission.

Massachusetts made history when Governor William F. Weld signed the Gay and Lesbian Student Rights Law on December 10, 1993. Massachusetts became the only state in the country to have full support for gay students through its governor, who created the nation's first Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, and through the state legislature, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of the law.

The law prohibits discrimination in public schools on the basis of sexual orientation. Gay students are guaranteed redress when they suffer name calling, threats of violence, and unfair treatment in school. A student suffering from harassment can now go to the principal, school board, and school administration and expect intervention and protection. Gay students now have the legal right to full participation in all school courses, clubs and activities.

The right to form gay/straight alliance in school is ensured by the new law. Schools have the legal obligation to provide the same materials, space, financial support, publicity, and all other support provided to any other student group or club.

There are over ten thousand gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in Massachusetts schools whose lives will be safer and whose educational opportunities will be increased because of the passage of the Gay Student Rights Law.

The extraordinary victory achieved on December 10, 1993 was due to a spectacular lobbying effort by up to one thousand gay and straight students across Massachusetts. Hundreds of students attended rallies on Beacon Hill and met with their state legislators. Students organized letter-writing campaigns in their high schools and displayed posters and information about the legislation.

Courageous gay and lesbian teenagers told their personal stories of harassment and unjust treatment in school at public forums and on television, radio, and in print. The unprecedented student lobbying effort made national headlines. NBC News, the New York Times, National Public Radio, and the CBS Radio News gave extraordinary coverage to the students' efforts and their victory. The blaze of national news has inspired students across the nation to follow the lead of Massachusetts students and begin plans to introduce similar anti-discrimination legislation in their states.

Mission:

Governor William F. Weld signed an executive order on February 10, 1992 creating the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, the first of its kind in the nation. The Governor then signed into law on December 10, 1993 legislation prohibiting discrimination against any student in a public school based on sexual orientation.

This law has come to be known as the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Student Rights Law. Governor Weld and Lieutenant Governor Paul Cellucci acted in response to the epidemic of suicide by gay and lesbian youth as revealed in a 1989 Federal report on youth suicide. This report stated that between 1950 and 1980, the suicide rate for youths aged 15 through 24 rose 170% as opposed to only 20% among the total population. Gay and lesbian youths accounted for approximately 30% of those youth suicides.

The Commission's mandate is the prevention of gay and lesbian youth suicide, violence prevention and creating school environments where gay and lesbian students can feel safe and where harrassment is not tolerated. The Commission is empowered to make recommendations to the Governor and to state and private agencies about the creation of programs and policies on behalf on gay and lesbian students in Massachusetts. As expressed by the Governor in the preamble to the executive order, abolishing prejudice and discrimination against gay and lesbian youth is the goal and charge of the Commission.

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