Lgbtq Ethical Issues

The current political atmosphere has ethical ramifications for the welfare of LGBTQ+ students and school climate. In March 2017, Education Secretary DeVos met with a group of LGBTQ+ school advocates, stating, “Every school and every school leader has a moral responsibility to protect all students and ensure every child is respected and can learn in an accepting environment” (U.S. Department of Education, 2017). However, in May 2017, Secretary DeVos qualified this position, stating she will not restrict federal funding for schools who ban LGBTQ+ students (Turban, 2017). Similarly, Vice President Pence wrote on a campaign website: "Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexual’s [sic] as a ‘discreet and insular minority’ entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities" (Pence, 2000). The actions of Secretary DeVos and the sentiments of Vice President Pence are unethical and harmful to

Mainly driven by conservative religious beliefs, some parents, school administrators, and politicians have opposed these organizations. GSAs have been protected from legal actions due to the Equal Access Act and the United States Constitution’s First Amendment (Mercier, 2009). Nevertheless, some school boards and administrators continue to change policy and legislation using “extreme measures . . . to prevent GSAs from organizing and meeting on school premises reveal[ing] that the deep animus of local communities and school board officials towards gay and lesbian individuals is in fact the driving force behind their actions” (Mercier, 2009, p. 179). The legal attempts to ban GSAs have not hindered the organizations from growing, as they are increasing across the U.S. (Kosciw et al., 2008, 2010; Russell et al.,