RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE AGENCIES AND TO
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE

The Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth is making recommendations to three state agencies and to the Massachusetts legislature so that our recommendations for schools and families can be effectively implemented. The Department of Education, the Executive Office of Education and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), together can play a powerful role as a catalyst in guiding school systems to learn about the problems of gay and lesbian students and in working to create a safe learning environment for them. The Massachusetts Legislature can guarantee the rights of gay and lesbian youth to public education.

State government can have an impact on local schools by:

* serving as a voice of influence
* compiling and disseminating policies and guidelines
* compiling and disseminating information and resources
* conducting outreach programs to inform and foster action

THE COMMISSION IS MAKING A TOTAL OF TEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE AGENCIES AND THE LEGISLATURE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE EXPLAINED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

1. SPONSOR TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH

We recommend that the Department of Education co-sponsor conferences and workshops with the commission to educate teachers and families about how to meet the needs of gay and lesbian students. The training should focus on suicide intervention, drop-out prevention, substance abuse prevention, violence prevention, and on making schools safe for all students, gay, lesbian, or heterosexual.

2. MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO SCHOOL COMMITTEE ASSOCIATIONS CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS FACED BY GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH

We recommend that the Department of Education conduct presentations and workshops at meetings or conferences of School Committee Associations about the problems and needs of gay and lesbian students. The commission's recommendations should also be presented at these meetings. There should be at least one parent and one teenager in each group which presents to the School Committee members.

3. DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE A YELLOW PAGES RESOURCE BOOK ABOUT GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH

We recommend that the Department of Education develop three separate versions of a resource book about services and support for gay and lesbian youth. Versions should be developed for students, for teachers, and for families.

These resource guides should be sent to school libraries, public libraries, PTA members, school committee members, school principals and guidance counselors, as well as to teachers.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION

1. DEVELOP AND PROMOTE ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENTS

We recommend that the Executive Office of Education conduct a statewide campaign, in cooperation with the Department of Education, to promote adoption of anti-harassment policies and guidelines which will protect all students, gay, lesbian, and heterosexual, in the Commonwealth. Guidelines should include suggestions for disciplinary action as well as procedures for handling incidents of anti-gay violence.

2. DEVELOP AND PROMOTE SCHOOL POLICIES THAT WILL GUARANTEE GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENTS EQUAL RIGHTS TO AN EDUCATION

We recommend that the Executive Office of Education conduct a statewide campaign, in cooperation with the Department of Education, to urge school systems to adopt and publicize policies which guarantee the rights of gay and lesbian students to an education. These policies should include protecting the rights of gay and lesbian students to participate in all courses of study as well as in school activities.

3. RESEARCH THE PROBLEMS OF GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENTS AND THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS AND FAMILIES

We recommend that statewide research focusing on the problems faced in school by gay and lesbian students be conducted by the Executive Office of Education and that the results be widely publicized. The attitudes and needs of teachers, as well as those of family members of lesbian and gay adolescents, should be researched.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (MCAD)

1.CONDUCT OUTREACH TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO INFORM THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE GAY CIVIL RIGHTS LAW

Many teachers and school professionals live in fear of losing their livelihood because they are unaware of their legal rights, or because their school administration has not explicitly made a commitment to protecting the civil rights of gay and lesbian educators. We recommend that the MCAD conduct a statewide outreach program to inform teachers, principals, and school personnel about the provisions of the state's Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Law, which was enacted in 1989. This outreach campaign should include informing educators about the legal remedies available to them.

2. SPONSOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AWARENESS PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE GAY CIVIL RIGHTS LAW ,

We recommend that the MCAD make presentations in schools across the state to teach students about the state's gay and lesbian civil rights law, including the history of the law's passage, its impact on Massachusetts, and the provisions of the law.

3. SPONSOR LEGISLATION TO EXTEND MCAD'S JURISDICTION TO INCLUDE COMPLAINTS OF EDUCATION DISCRIMINATION

We recommend that the MCAD sponsor legislation to amend the Massachusetts General Laws to increase the scope of its jurisdiction to include investigation and prosecution of complaints of education discrimination, including but not limited to sexual orientation discrimination.

RECOMMENDATION TOTHE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE

1. PASS THE BILL ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION"

We recommend that the Massachusetts legislature enact and Governor Weld sign into law an amendment to section 5 of chapter 76 of the General Laws. The phrase "sexual orientation" shall be added to the existing law. The law would then read as follows:

"No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation."

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