States with Safe Schools Laws

One of the most effective steps schools, school districts and states can take to improve school climate and make schools safer is to enact safe schools laws and policies. When GLSEN uses the term "Safe Schools Laws", we are actually referring to two distinct types of laws that protect LGBT students in schools.

The first type is non-discrimination laws which many states have passed to provide protection from discrimination to LGBT students in schools. The second type is fully enumerated anti-bullying laws. These are laws that specifically prohibit bullying and harassment of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. These laws most often use both terms: "bullying" and "harassment" but in some cases may use only one. There are some safe schools laws that protect from discrimination based on sexual orientation but not gender identity/expression.

Only 16 states and the District of Columbia (green and magenta in the map below) have safe schools laws designed to protect students based on sexual orientation. Only 12 states and D.C. (green in the map) have such laws to protect students based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

States, along with the District of Columbia, that protect students based on sexual orientation:
California
Connecticut
Colorado
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Jersey
*New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Vermont
Washington
Washington D.C.
Wisconsin
*New York State's law is currently the subject of litigation

States, along with the District of Columbia, that protect students based on gender identity/expression:

California
Colorado
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oregon
Vermont
Washington
Washington D.C.