Know Your Rights as an LGBTQ Student

What are my rights in a public or private school?

All New Hampshire public school students have the right:

To be safe in school without being bullied,
To access information about LGBTQ subjects including educational website,
To dress and present yourself in a manner consistent with your gender identity,
To free speech and expression. This means you have the right to express ideas that may offend other people and you have the right to disagree with others, as long as you express those ideas in a respectful way.

All New Hampshire public and some private school students have the right:

To be protected from discrimination or harassment based on gender or HIV status,
To be protected from sexual harassment,
To form a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) that gets treated the same as every other non-curricular group. This means equal funding, access to facilities, and the ability to choose your group’s name.

What are my rights outside school?

Outside of school you have the right:

To be protected from discrimination based on your actual or perceived sexual orientation, HIV status, or sex in employment, housing, and public accommodations (like restaurants or stores). There is currently no protection in New Hampshire law that specifically states it is for “transgender person.” In some cases, a transgender person might be protected based on sexual orientation, sex or disability. Discrimination based on those things are not allowed.
To give your own consent to get tested for HIV without your parents’ permission if you are over age 14. A doctor does not have to, but may, tell a parent or legal guardian about a positive test result if you are under 18. If confidentiality is important to you, talk to your doctor before the test and understand their policy on this issue.
To report to the police anyone in or out of school who physically harms you, threatens you, or vandalizes your property.

What do I do if I am harassed, bullied or discriminated against?

Tell somebody – friends, family, teachers, counselors.
Keep notes on what is happening – who, when, where and how.
Get a copy of your school’s policies on student conduct and discipline.
Report it to the person stated in the school policy – do it in writing or electronically so you can prove you reported it.

Where can I get help?

SUICIDE HOTLINE (National) 1-800-273-8255