GLSEN Statement on Confirmation of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General

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Curtis Lahaie Marketing and Communications Associate Curtis.Lahaie@glsen.org 646-388-6572

GLSEN Statement on Confirmation of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General

NEW YORK (February 10, 2017) – GLSEN’s Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard, released the following statement in response to the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General.   

“GLSEN is deeply concerned by the confirmation of Donald Trump’s appointments to key federal offices overseeing civil rights monitoring and enforcement, including the confirmation of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General. In addition to his long and troubling record on racial discrimination, Sessions has also voted against federal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) people and women. When voting against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Acts, Mr. Sessions said he’s 'not sure women or people with different sexual orientations face that kind of discrimination,' disregarding the well-documented fact that the majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students experience anti-LGBTQ discrimination at school.”

"During his confirmation hearing Mr. Sessions claimed he would uphold 'statutes protecting [LGBTQ people’s] safety' and ensure that 'civil rights are enforced.' But his record gives little comfort on that score: from voting against the Violence Against Women Act to the LGBTQ-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Sessions has shown no regard for protecting LGBTQ people's civil rights." 

"Parents, students and advocates for inclusive public education across our country deserve to hear how President Trump, Mr. Sessions and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will protect the civil rights of ALL Americans, particularly the rights of our most vulnerable groups: LGBTQ youth, women, people of color, and especially undocumented immigrants, among other marginalized groups under increased attack across our country.”

For more information on the experiences of LGBTQ students in U.S. secondary schools, see GLSEN's 2015 National School Climate Survey.

About GLSEN

GLSEN champions safe and affirming schools for all students. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach tens of thousands of K-12 schools across the United States, and our network of chapters brings GLSEN’s expertise to their local communities. GLSEN's progress and impact have won support for our work at all levels of education in the United States and sparked an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in schools. For more information on GLSEN’s policy advocacy, student leadership initiatives, public education, research and educator training programs, please visit glsen.org.