It's horrible! The Trump Administration announced it is rescinding Title IX guidance related to schools' obligations to address sexual harassment, including sexual violence.
Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration have clearly drawn a line in the sand, stating that they prefer it be more difficult for survivors of sexual assault to receive justice. This unconscionable decision -- coupled with the decision to rescind guidance aimed at protecting transgender students -- sadly indicates that the Department of Education is no longer in the business of protecting students from harm.
LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by sexual assault and harassment, and the stigma that many LGBTQ people face can make it more difficult for survivors to report. Studies suggest that nearly half of bisexual women have been raped and half of transgender people will experience sexual violence at some point in their lifetimes. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national survey of high school students, lesbian and bisexual women and gay and bisexual men experienced higher rates of sexual assault than their straight counterparts.
In February, DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions also withdrew important guidance that clarified schools’ obligations to protect transgender students from discrimination under Title IX.
Sign your name to stand with the Human Rights Campaign and demand that DeVos and the Trump administration make schools safe for LGBTQ students.
