On August 20, 2018 in Hastings Nebraska, the Hastings Public School Board voted on an amendment to the language of the Hastings Public Schools Anti-Discrimination Policy for students and staff (404.06 and 504.18) to include protections against discrimination and harassment based on sex or gender and sexual orientation. There was limited opportunity for community feedback. The public was restricted to six speakers limited to 5 minutes in their comments. After being denied the ability to speak, no effort was made to access the position of the members of the public in attendance to see which side of the issue they supported. No indication of any research other than one comment from the Journal of School Psychology, as indicated in August 16, 2018 work session minutes, was conducted to inform the school board. After brief public comment, the addition of the language was defeated by a vote of 6-2.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) students experience the highest rates of bullying and harassment among children. Research conducted by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) indicates LGBTQ+ students are bullied more and “twice as likely as non LGBTQ+ students to be verbally harassed or physically assaulted at school.” (Growing Up LGBT in America: HRC Youth Survey Report Key Findings, HUM. RTS. CAMPAIGN 16 (2012), http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets /resources/Growing-Up-LGBT-in-America_Report.pdf [http://perma.cc/9CYR-BSWY  Half of all transgender and bisexual women experience sexual violence in their lifetime. LGBTQ+ students experience higher rates of absenteeism, dropout, physical and mental health issues and have a higher rate of suicide. A study by the American foundation for Suicide Prevention found that 41% of transgender people will try to kill themselves at some point in their lives, compared with 4.6% of the general public.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex. In 2015 the Office of Civil Rights extended these rights to include LGBTQ+ students.  The US Department of Education has supported the protections of Title IX prior to changes made by the current administration. Comments by members of the HPS School Board imply that all students will be treated the same and fail to understand that not all students are the same nor are they treated the same. If this were true, no school system in America would need policies protecting students from discrimination. By ignoring the differences and failing to understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and staff with a “one size fits all approach” the school board has failed its responsibility to create a safe learning and working environment. As LGBTQ+ people are not granted protections from discrimination under Nebraska law, they are not granted legal protections from harassment. They are not even covered with the general phrase, “and other protected groups.” Under the new policy, teachers and students will continue to perpetuate stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people.

The Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island School districts all have anti discrimination protections based on sex, gender and sexual orientation.  As does Hastings College. The City of Hastings offers such protections to its employees as well. Hastings Public Schools need to step up and recognize the needs of their student population and staff.

As alums, taxpayers, parents and friends of the Hastings Public Schools, we are angered by the actions of the HPS School Board in perpetuating discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

This petition serves to provide the public input that was not allowed at the August 20, 2018 meeting. The Hastings Public Schools Board must recognize the needs of the population they have been elected to serve. We express our support for the LGBTQ+ community and urge the HPS Board to reconsider their decision and insert language protecting LGBTQ+ students and staff at the earliest opportunity.