Republicans are already getting their way in public schools

LGBTQ+ people—and especially LGBTQ+ youth—are under attack. This is certainly true on a global scale, and it’s true in the United States as well. While some folks do live in areas (whether on the state or city level) that offer explicit protections for queer folks, the reality is that discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity still happens with disturbing regularity. And Republicans are making anti-queer rhetoric (and specifically anti-trans rhetoric) a major platform for midterms… and if you ask me, that’ll just continue into the presidential election at the rate we’re going.

Folks of all ages are negatively affected by anti-trans bills seeking to bar trans girls and women from participating in girls’ sports, bathroom bans, and of course, efforts to bar physicians from providing safe and age-appropriate gender-affirming health care. Youth, however, not only lack the option to actually vote, but they’re also in the ever-vulnerable and delicate situation of being reliant on parents or guardians for safety and support. 

School should be a safe space, but as brand new data from GLSEN shows, that’s far from reality. 

RELATED: When it comes to trans rights, we all need our eyes on Arkansas