I am a student who has experienced first-hand the sting of discrimination. I was reprimanded for simply holding another girl's hand during school hours. While some teachers are accepting, others are not, and this inconsistency is part of the problem. This experience is not unique to me; countless students around the world face similar or worse situations every day.

LGBTQIA+ students are three times more likely to feel unsafe at school than their heterosexual peers (GLSEN National School Climate Survey). They often face verbal harassment, physical harassment, and even physical assault because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This widespread discrimination has severe consequences. According to The Trevor Project's National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020, 40% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months.

We cannot stand by while our schools become places of fear and exclusion for any student. We call upon educational institutions worldwide to implement comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that protect all students regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We demand that schools foster an environment where every student feels safe, respected and valued for who they truly are.

Please sign this petition if you believe in equality and safety for all students in our global education system.