New Report Examines Discrimination Faced by LGBT Youth

Ryan Thoreson ’14 is the Robert L. Bernstein International Human Rights Fellow at Human Rights Watch where he focuses on LGBT children’s rights. On December 7, 2016, Ryan and his colleagues launched a 106-page report entitled ‘Walking Through a Hailstorm’: Discrimination against LGBT Youth in US Schools. Back in 2001, Human Rights Watch had published a report on bullying of LGBT youth and the organization wanted Ryan Thoreson to revisit the issue as part of his Bernstein Fellowship.

The title of the report comes from one parent’s description of the hostile school environment her child experienced, which was akin to “walking through a hailstorm.” It wasn’t one piece of hail in particular; it was “the whole experience.” After interviewing over 500 students, teachers, administrators, parents, service providers and driving around Alabama, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Utah, there was one clear takeaway message for Thoreson. “People assume that attitudes have changed and that as laws improve things are better for LGBT youth but this isn’t the case for many of the students we spoke to,” he said. The report, “Walking Through a Hailstorm” outlines a range of problems such as bullying, exclusion and discrimination LGBT students continue to face, putting not only their education, but physical and psychological health in jeopardy.

Eight U.S. states have laws that prohibit the promotion of homosexuality or restrict discussions of homosexuality in schools. Ryan Thoreson and his colleagues found that these “no promo laws”, which were initially designed to instruct sexual education, have a wider “chilling effect.” “There is no discussion about how to keep LGBT students safe,” Thoreson said. Teachers and administrators admitted they don’t know exactly what the laws mean and often avoid or silence discussion of LGBT topics to avoid upsetting parents and school officials. The report documents how school libraries fail to include books relating to LGBT issues, Internet searches are screened and students are banned on bringing same-sex dates to prom.

“Walking Through a Hailstorm” outlines a number of recommendations to state legislatures, departments of education, congress and school administrators. Aside from the legal advocacy, Thoreson emphasizes that there are a number of recommendations that don’t require law.

“Schools can pass their own bullying policies, include LGBT books in libraries, ensure same-sex couples can display affection, attend dances and operate on the same terms as all other student couples,” said Thoreson.