Small Changes Lead to Powerful Outcomes

There are historical changes occurring at the local level throughout the U.S., and GLSEN would like to acknowledge the positive influence those changes are having on their communities.

In Alabama, the Franklin County School System retracted their initial decision to bar Cynthia Stewart, a junior at Tharptown High School, from taking her girlfriend to the school prom next March. This decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama sent the school a letter earlier this month demanding their decision be reversed.

Schools everywhere would do well to take note of this school’s decision to obey Federal law and not discriminate against students who want to bring same-sex dates to school dances. -Christine P. Sun, senior counsel with the ACLU national LGBT Project

In Florida, the Tampa City Council has voted 5 to 1 to expanded their anti-discrimination policy to include transgender people. This ordinance will now protect transgender people against housing, employment and public accommodation discrimination.

Despite mixed emotions and critical debate by opponents of the expanded policy, board chairman Philip Dinkins said:

The bottom line is discrimination is wrong, and history has proven that expanding the civil rights of our citizens is the right thing to do.

We couldn't agree more.