GLSEN Responds to Election Results: Urgent Call to Action for LGBTQ+ Youth Protections

Washington, DC (November 6, 2024) - Today, following the election results, where Donald Trump has been declared the winner, GLSEN expresses deep concern over the potential impacts on LGBTQ+ youth and their rights. The re-election of President Trump brings an immediate threat with the implementation of Project 2025, a plan that aims to dismantle critical protections and fundamentally alter the landscape of education and civil rights in the United States.

Executive Director of GLSEN, Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, stated:

"Today, many in our community feel a profound sense of loss and concern for the future. The threat posed by Project 2025 is real and immediate. This plan seeks to undermine Title IX protections, removing vital safeguards that ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. With these changes, our young people could face increased discrimination, reduced access to safe spaces, and diminished legal recognition, particularly for transgender students."

A video statement from Melanie can be found HERE.

The proposed changes under Project 2025 include:

• Eliminating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Definitions: The redefinition of sex as strictly "biological sex recorded at birth" threatens to exclude transgender students from legal protections.
• Reducing Safe Environments: By weakening protections under Title IX, there will be fewer safeguards against sex-based harassment, including bullying and physical assault.
• Removing Federal Oversight: Without federal mechanisms to investigate discrimination, students will be left vulnerable to unchecked harassment and discrimination.
• Threatening the Department of Education: The potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education could severely impact public education, particularly in underserved communities.

"Hope is a discipline," Willingham-Jaggers continued. "We may grieve today, but tomorrow we must come back stronger. This election result highlights the urgency of our work. We must mobilize, organize, and protect our youth from these harmful policies. Our community is resilient, and we will not back down. We urge everyone to join us in this critical fight for equality and justice."

ABOUT GLSEN

GLSEN, the nation's largest advocate for LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education, has been dedicated to establishing inclusive schools and learning environments for over 34 years. Amidst increasing threats against LGBTQ+ youth nationwide, GLSEN actively addresses harassment and discrimination by empowering educators, advocating for policy changes, and combating book bans through its Rainbow Library Program, which provides LGBTQ+ affirming literature to over 6 million students across 30 states.