LGBTQIA+ & the Federal Government: Online LGBTQIA+ Documents

This civil rights organization originated at Ohio State University in the 1970's and had several other chapters throughout the U.S. which were concerned with equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Federal and Supreme Court decisions regarding sexual discrimination.

On June 24, 2014, the White House hosted the first-ever Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights Forum, bringing together the faith community, private sector, philanthropy, HIV and other health advocates, LGBT activists from around the world, and the broader human rights community to discuss how to work together with the U.S. government and others to promote respect for the human rights of LGBT individuals around the world.

Basic information from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding Bathroom Access Rights for Transgender Employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

This document summarizes an EEOC federal sector administrative decision issued in 2015 in a Title VII case alleging sex discrimination based on gender identity with respect to bathroom/facility access.

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have made historic strides to expand opportunities and advance equality and justice for all Americans, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Americans. From major legislative achievements to historic court victories to important policy changes, the President has fought to promote the equal rights of all Americans — no matter who they are or who they love. That commitment to leveling the playing field and ensuring equal protection under the law is the bedrock principle this nation was founded on and has guided the President’s actions in support of all Americans.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency charged with safeguarding the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially retaliation for whistleblowing.It is a prohibited personnel practice, or PPP, for an agency official to discriminate against federal employees or applicants based on sexual orientation or gender identity.See 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(1) (prohibits discrimination based on, among other things, sex) and 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(10) (prohibits discrimination based on conduct not adversely affecting job performance). A n agency official, however, may take action based on conduct, even if it occurred off duty, if it adversely affects job performance.

Over the past eight years we have witnessed an unprecedented effort to advance the civil rights of—and justice for—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) people living in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, paving the way for its 2015 ruling that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was unconstitutional.3 In 2009 congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act ( 18 U.S.C. § 249), which extends the federal hate crimes law to include attacks based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. And 2013 saw the first federal funding statute, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 ( 42 U.S.C. § 13925 (b)(13)), to explicitly bar discrimination based on actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, second session, hearing held in Washington, DC, September 10, 2020

“We are committed to standing on the side of equality – and standing with the LGBT community – to keep up the fight for safety, opportunity, dignity and justice for all.” —Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Statement

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc.(Harris Homes)v. EEOC, a trio of cases in which the Court is considering for the first time whether the prohibition of employment discrimination “because of . . . sex”in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964(Title VII)encompasses discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hearing focused on the fight to protect the civil rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Europe and Eurasia.

Our officers are on the front lines around the world, working tirelessly to ensure that our customers – the President and senior policymakers – have the intelligence they need to make informed national security decisions. In doing so, CIA officers are guided by a professional ethos that includes the core values of service, integrity, excellence, courage, teamwork, and stewardship. A mission this critical requires a diverse and inclusive workforce. Encouraging an Agency culture that values diversity of thought, experience and perspective helps us successfully carry out our mission.

During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month, we reflect on the progress we have made as a Nation in the fight for justice, inclusion, and equality while reaffirming our commitment to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad.

Virtual hearing before the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, first session, November 9, 2021

It is the policy of the Federal Government to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals. Executive Order 11478, as amended, expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity within executive branch civilian employment. It also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, parental status, and age. The Executive Order states that this non-discrimination policy “must be an integral part of every aspect of personnel policy and practice in the employment, development, advancement, and treatment of civilian employees of the Federal Government, to the extent permitted by law.”

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that all employers under its jurisdiction provide employees with sanitary and available toilet facilities, so that employees will not suffer the adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not available when employees need them.

It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all of its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether that discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Agencies should review their anti-discrimination policies to ensure that they afford a non-discriminatory working environment to employees irrespective of their gender identity or perceived gender non-conformity.

Report prepared by the General Accounting Office for Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Honorable Joseph E. Lieberman, Honorable Arlen Specter, Honorable James Jeffords and the United States Senate.

Twelve states' and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. This report studies these states' laws and reports on their experiences with enforcing them.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces Executive Order 11246, as amended, which prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against employees and job applicants based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Prior to 1975, Federal Government policy considered an individual’s sexual orientation when determining suitability for Federal employment. Although we will never know the exact number of individuals who were denied employment or who had their employment terminated based on their actual or assumed sexual orientation, one estimate places this number between 7,000 and 10,000 in the 1950’s alone. It is impossible to determine the number of individuals who may not have sought Federal employment due to the knowledge that their sexual orientation made them ineligible for selection.

The Department of Labor believes that the nation and the workforce are strongest when we embrace diversity, and when workers can apply their unique skills and talents to jobs that provide fair wages, benefits, and working conditions, and ensure respectful inclusion. For decades, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers have fought for that same opportunity.

Every American deserves the freedom to live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. But many transgender Americans, especially transgender women and girls of color, continue to face systemic discrimination and violence. In too many states across the Nation, anti-transgender legislation has sought to strip away core rights of transgender Americans, especially transgender children. These legislative efforts defy our Nation’s values of freedom and equality, and as President Biden has said, these bills amount to bullying disguised as legislation.

Every person deserves the freedom to live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. But many transgender individuals, especially transgender women and girls of color, continue to face systemic discrimination and violence. The Biden-Harris Administration is working to root out discrimination and barriers that transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary Americans continue to face.

Many foster care and adoption agencies, both public and private, welcome the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) community as a valuable resource for infants,
children, and youth in need of permanent families. Still, LGBTQ+ prospective foster and adoptive
parents continue to face significant challenges related to adoption.

The United States Census Bureau linked on their site to this document regarding LGBTQ families

Like all young people, LGBTQ+ youth in foster care need the support of a nurturing family to help them negotiate adolescence and grow into healthy adults. This factsheet helps to guide foster parents on how to best help and support LGBTQ+ youth in their care.

On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court issued a decision in a series of cases brought by gay and transgender workers alleging that their employers violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964(Title VII) by discriminating against them “because of. . . sex.”

During the last decade, child welfare professionals and agencies alike have welcomed the increasing visibility of families headed by LGBTQ parents. A growing number of agencies in the United States, both public and private, have established more supportive practices and are becoming increasingly proactive in recruiting families within the LGBTQ community, which means a larger pool of highly motivated and qualified prospective parents for children who need them.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4176) to improve Federal population surveys by requiring the collection of voluntary, self-disclosed information on sexual orientation and gender identity in certain surveys, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

Pursuant to the June 2022 Executive Order 14075 on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals, the Office of the Chief Statistician of the United States developed this report to provide recommendations for Federal agencies on the current best practices for the collection of self-reported sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data on Federal statistical surveys. These recommendations build on a long history of robust Federal effort to develop and refine SOGI measurement best practices.

hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, May 11, 1999

Gender Neutrality of Sexual Assault Laws in Canada, China, Egypt, Mexico, Peru and Saudi Arabia

Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session on ramifications of internet technology on today's children, focusing on the prevalence of internet hate, and recommendations of how to shield children from the negative impact of violent media, September 14, 1999.

Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session on, February 24, 2016.

Statistics over a 4-year aggregate period of 2017 to 2020. The rates of violent victimization were significantly higher for persons age 16 or older who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than for those who identified as straight, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey

This toolkit is designed to help behavioral health providers assist lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people enroll in health coverage. Many LGBT people in the United States lack health coverage, and therefore often lack access to behavioral health services and could benefit from enrollment support. They may be unaware of new health coverage options under the Affordable Care Act that could affect their health outcomes. Behavioral health providers can promote enrollment by educating patients about the law and directing them to appropriate resources for further assistance.

Public debate and attention has focused on whether certain medical treatments should be available for transgender minors to address a discordance between a person’s sex characteristics and gender identity. A number of states have passed laws prohibiting specific treatments for minors, including puberty blocking medication (“puberty blockers”), hormones, and surgical procedures. Several states assert, among other things, that the treatments are too experimental and can have potentially irreversible effects. Parents of transgender minors, among others, argue that these laws deny critical medical care to transgender minors and discriminate based on sex or transgender status in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Some litigation has also alleged that these laws violate state constitutions.

Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults in the United States typically are well adjusted and mentally healthy, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011) reports that LGBT populations are at substantially greater risk for substance use and mental health problems.

States have recently considered the extent to which transgender individuals should have access to certain
medical treatments to address a discordance between a person’s sex characteristics and gender identity.
While some states have enacted legislation ensuring that such services are available to transgender
people, other states have policies restricting access to or otherwise limiting health coverage for them.

In April 2010, President Barack Obama asked Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to identify steps the Department could take to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) individuals, families, and communities.

Coming out at earlier ages has important implications for how practitioners work with children, youth, and families, how they
educate parents, families, and caregivers about sexual orientation and gender identity, and how services are provided to
LGBT children and adolescents.

This publication was developed through a systematic and innovative process in which clinicians, researchers, program and administrative managers, policymakers, and other federal, State, and independent experts were brought together for a series of intensive sessions. These individuals reviewed and discussed current administrative and clinical practices for treating substance-abusing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and then wrote and edited the resulting document. The goal of this process was to improve and advance substance abuse treatment for a community of individuals whose health care needs are often ignored, denigrated, or denied.

Steps for implementing the Institute of Medicine's report regarding Lesbian health with topics including cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, mental health and more.

This report presents national estimates of several measures of sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity among males and females aged 15–44 years in the United States, based on the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). These data are relevant to demographic and public health concerns, including fertility and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers and adults. Data from the 2006–2008 NSFG are compared with data from the 2002 NSFG and other national surveys.

This report provides national estimates of sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual orientation among women and men aged 18–44 in the United
States, based on the 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG).

To provide national estimates for indicators of health-related behaviors, health status, health care service utilization, and health care access by sexual orientation using data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

This document presents an overview of current health issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. While many challenges exist with regards to the availability of data, this kit aims to create awareness among prevention specialists and healthcare providers of the needs, experiences, and health status of LGBT Americans.

Your Birth Sex and Gender Identity are important parts of who you are that should be shared with your healthcare provider. By sharing this information with your provider, you are helping to ensure that you receive the highest quality care. VA understands that transgender and gender diverse Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in healthcare, and is committed to promoting an affirming environment that is inclusive of all Veterans.

Veterans who are gay, bisexual, and queer men face increased health risks and unique challenges in accessing quality healthcare. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is working to be a national leader in health care for LGBTQ+ Veterans and assure that high-quality care is provided in a person-centered, respectful environment.

Veterans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer women face increased health risks and unique challenges in accessing quality healthcare. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is working to be a national leader in health care for LGBTQ+ Veterans and assure that high-quality care is provided in a person-centered, respectful environment.

This LGBTQ Theme Study is a publication of the National Park Foundation for the National Park Service and funded by the Gill Foundation. Each chapter is written and peer-reviewed by experts in LGBTQ Studies.

The Pride Guide is an interactive resource for exploring lesbian, gay,bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) history and places in theUnited States. Gather a group of friends or peers when using thisguide, as the discussion questions and activities are meant to be completed with others. Working through the Pride Guide gives you an opportunity to learn new things, but it should also inspire you to socialize with others while listening to their thoughts and perspec-tives.Intended for teenagers and gay-straight alliances, the Pride Guidecan also be used by adults and communities interested in learning more about the topic material. The Pride Guide may also be used by teachers to meet state standards and requirements for inclu-sive curricula.

Monthly newsletter regarding HIV/AIDS.

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, second session, March 11, 2010

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, second session, March 11, 2010

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Environment of the Committee on Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, second session, on H.R. 4807, July 11, 2000

If you have HIV infection or AIDS, you have workplace privacy rights, you are protected against discrimination and harassment at work because of your condition, and you may have a legal right to reasonable accommodations that can help you to do your job.

If a patient with HIV infection is experiencing trouble at work because of the condition (e.g., problems with stamina, increased need to use the restroom, difficulty seeing, or impaired concentration), he or she may be entitled to a "reasonable accommodations" from the employer that will help to solve the problem under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

HIV prevention for transgender people is a core priority of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. As part of its High-Impact Prevention approach, CDC is working with public health partners, other federal agencies, and community leaders to address key gaps in HIV prevention and care for transgender people nationwide.

This final rule reflects existing statutory requirements in the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and changes made via the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008. More specifically, the rule establishes program performance standards for Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees providing services to eligible youth and their families.

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session, April 11, 2002.

This video introduces the staff and clients of Larkin Street Youth Services, a shelter for homeless youth in San Francisco, and covers its programs for those rejected by family because of their sexual identities. Provides statistics for behaviors and crises experienced by LGBTQ homeless youth. Features comments by Toby Eastman and Loch McHale, the center's Chief of Programs and Director of Services, and their teen and young adult clients.

This video covers the reactions and tactics of staff at Larkin Street Youth Services, a shelter for homeless youth in San Francisco, in response to tense interactions of young, homeless, LGBT clients in a group counseling session. Features comments by Toby Eastman, the center's Chief of Programs.

This video presents a discussion among counseling staff of Larkin Street Youth Services of open approaches to gender identity among LGBTQ youth, particularly transsexuals. Includes coverage of semantics and an interview of a transgender-male-to-female client conducted by Toby Eastman, the center's Chief of Programs.

Living arrangements are rapidly changing in America, especially when it comes to both same-sex couple households and the recognition of same-sex marriages by individual states. A description of these households is not complete without identifying the presence of children in these households by their relation to the householder—whether they are biological children, stepchildren, or adopted children. This report addresses these topics by presenting data from the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) on same-sex couple households at national and state levels. The data in this report are for households, not individuals.

This is the first large-scale, paired-testing study to assess housing discrimination against same-sex couples in metropolitan rental markets via advertisements on the Internet. This methodology provides the first direct evidence of discriminatory treatment of same-sex couples compared with the treatment of heterosexual couples when searching for rental housing advertised on the Internet in the United States.

Marriage for same-sex couples was only permitted in a limited number of states prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision In Obergefell v. Hodges. We exploit this variation across states prior to the Supreme Court decision to investigate the effect of marriage laws on demand for mortgage credit. Identification relies on the fact that states permitted same-sex marriage at different points in time, often through court order whereby the outcome and timing of ruling was unknown. We estimate that states permitting same-sex marriage experienced an 8 to 13 percent increase in same-Sex mortgage applications after the policy was implemented.

This Guidance supersedes the Department of Justice’s 2003 Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. It builds upon and expands the framework of the 2003 Guidance, and it reaffirms the Federal government’s deep commitment to ensuring that its law enforcement agencies conduct their activities in an unbiased manner. Biased practices, as the Federal government has long recognized, are unfair, promote distrust of law enforcement, and perpetuate negative and harmful stereotypes. Moreover—and vitally important—biased practices are ineffective. As Attorney General Eric Holder has stated, such practices are “simply not good law enforcement.”

Youths’ sexual orientations and gender identities are complex. Youths experience an ongoing process of sexual development as they mature into young adults. Adolescence presents a time in people’s lives when they are unsure of themselves and begin to question who they are (Poirier et al. 2014; IOM 2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youths may present unique challenges in the juvenile justice system. Research has shown that LGBTQ youths are more likely to confront certain barriers and environmental risk factors connected to their sexual orientations and gender identities. For example, compared with their heterosexual classmates and peers, LGBTQ youths are more likely to experience bullying at school (Mitchum and Moodie–Mills 2014), more likely to experience rejection or victimization perpetrated by their parents/caregivers (often resulting in youths’ running away from home) [Friedman et al. 2011], more likely to face homelessness (Burwick et al. 2014), twice as likely to be arrested and detained for status offenses and other nonviolent offenses (Irvine 2010), and at higher risk for illicit drug use (Heck et al. 2014).

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) policies have rendered both the physical and psychological aspects of “transgender conditions” as disqualifying conditions for accession and allow for the administrative discharge of service members who fall into these categories. However, in July 2015, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced that DoD would “create a working group to study the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly.” In addition, he directed that “decision authority in all administrative discharges for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria1 or who identify themselves as transgender be elevated to the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), who will make determinations on all potential separations”.

Hearings before the Military Forces and Personnel Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, first session, hearings held July 21, 22 and 23, 1993

Memorandum for the President regarding military service by Transgender individuals

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02, this issuance establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures:
•Regarding the process by which Service members may transition gender while serving.
•For changing a Service member’s gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
•For medical care for Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) transgender Service members.

Hearing before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, hearing held, July 23, 2008

In this study, Lt Col Karen O. Dunivin, USAF, examines social change in American military culture and explores the current struggle between the military’s traditional and exclusionary combat, masculine warrior (CMW) paradigm or belief system and the contradictory evolving model of military culture characterized by egalitarianism and inclusiveness.

From the passage of the homosexual conduct policy statute, in fiscal year 1994, through fiscal year 2003 the military services separated about 9,500 service members for homosexual conduct. This represents about 0.40 percent of the 2.37 million members separated for all reasons during this period. Questions have been raised about the costs of separating service members for homosexual conduct. Also, in the post-September 11th environment, there has been concern about the separation of service members with critical occupations or important foreign language skills in, for example, Arabic.

Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments from 2021.

Hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, second session, March 29, 31 ; April 29 ; May 7, 10, 11 ; July 20, 21, 22, 1993

Hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, second session, March 29, 31 ; April 29 ; May 7, 10, 11 ; July 20, 21, 22, 1993

Hearing before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, hearing held April 7, 2011.

Hearing before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, hearing held April 7, 2011

This document outlines the 1994 new Department of Defense regulations on homosexual conduct in the Armed Forces

These education references and training resources are built on evidence-based practice guidelines and standards of care.

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, first session held February 27, 2019

Sex and gender are different. Sex is whether a person is male or female through their biology. Gender is the socially defined roles and characteristics of being male and female associated with that sex. There are a number of people for whom these associations do not match. This feeling may arise in childhood, adolescence or adulthood and may result in gender dysphoria. Sometimes people’s gender identity does not match their sex at birth. Gender dysphoria is a medical diagnosis that refers to distress that some transgender individuals experience due to a mismatch between their gender and their sex assigned at birth. The condition can manifest in a person as strong and persistent cross-gender identification and a discomfort with their biological sex, or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex. Transgender Service members may face challenges centered on their own personal situation and/or others’ unfamiliarity with gender identity issues.

Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments from 2015.

Prior to 2016, DOD policy treated the physical and psychological aspects of transgender conditions as (1) grounds for the discharge of existing servicemembers,and (2) a disqualifying conditionfor new accessionsthrough enlistment or commissioning.On June 30, 2016, then-Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announcedthat “transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender."

VHA provides care to a diverse population of veterans, including women and LGBT veterans. These veterans may experience differences in health outcomes that are closely linked with social or economic disadvantage, and VA considers it important to analyze the services they receive as well as their health outcomes to improve health equity.

The U.S. Coast Guard, a branch of the armed forces located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for protecting and defending more than 100,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways. The service also assists people in distress or affected by natural disasters. To accomplish its missions, the Coast Guard employs more than 40,000 active-duty service members. According to the Coast Guard, the service is committed to ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session on, February 24, 2016.

Hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session, July 12, 2016

Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, on issues relating to religious liberty protection, and focusing on the constitutionality of a religious protection measure, June 23, and September 9, 1999.

Adult educators concerned with inclusiveness and social justice are addressing issues related to students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT). Although research in mainstream adult education and published adult education materials that include LGBT issues and concerns are scarce, more resources have appeared in the last few years

Many students face bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on sex stereotypes and assumptions about what it means to be a boy or a girl. Students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, nonbinary, or otherwise gender non-conforming may face harassment based on how they dress or act, or for simply being who they are. It is important to know that discrimination against students based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by federal law. It is also important that LGBTQI+ students feel safe and know what to do if they experience discrimination.

This annotated bibliography includes resources that provide an overview of issues related to the challenges faced by gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) college students.

Young people (ages 10–24) who identify as LGBTQI+ may face discrimination, family rejection, and an elevated risk of mental health challenges, suicidal ideation, substance use, housing instability, and economic insecurity. LGBTQI+ young people are also overrepresented in systems such as child welfare, juvenile justice, and housing supports. They often face disparities related to sexually transmitted infections and other health issues.

Hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, first session, June 2, 2015

Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare. It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people. For transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the healthcare system.

The needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, survivors of sexual assault must be addressed in order to effectively end sexual assault on college campuses. This document describes how, despite significant strides in creating safer environments for LGBT students, many still experience harassment and violence based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, second session, June 26, 2014

Participants in the ongoing dialogue surrounding multiculturalism and inclusiveness on community college campuses are beginning to incorporate the topic of sexual minorities - lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) students - in the debate. This digest provides a review of current literature on the topic. Notably absent in the literature is research specific to community colleges; however, several publications have begun to address the topic of LGBT undergraduate students.

Schools play an important role in supporting the dignity, safety, and well-being of all students, including intersex students who may face challenges specific to being intersex. Federal civil rights laws protect all students, including intersex students, from sex discrimination. This protection includes, for example, protection against discrimination because students do not fit stereotypical views about boys and girls or men and women.

The Department of Education (ED)’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to amend its Title IX regulations. If adopted, the proposal would prohibit categorical bans on transgender students participating in sports consistent with their gender identity but would allow some restrictions that—for each grade level, sport, and level of competition—are substantially related to an important educational objective and are aimed to minimize harm.

The Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying individuals “the equal protection of the laws.” Transgender students have brought a number of challenges under the Equal Protection Clause against public school boards’ policies that prohibit them from accessing the bathroom consistent with their gender identity. Federal appellate courts reviewing such challenges have recently split on how constitutional protections apply. As discussed below, the Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Fourth Circuit have ruled that school policies prohibiting bathroom access consistent with a transgender student’s gender identity can violate their right to equal protection of the laws, while the full Eleventh Circuit recently upheld such a school policy against an equal protection challenge.

In the past several years, federal courts have disagreed about whether school policies that prohibit transgender students from using the school bathroom consistent with their gender identity violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Transgender students and their parents have challenged school board policies that prohibit students from accessing the bathrooms consistent with their gender identities, arguing that such treatment is illegal sex discrimination. The Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Seventh Circuit have ruled that school policies prohibiting bathroom access consistent with a transgender student’s gender identity can violate Title IX. The full Eleventh Circuit (sitting en banc) rejected a Title IX challenge to such a policy. (A similar division exists with respect to whether such policies violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause; another Legal Sidebar addresses that question.) Other students and parents have brought lawsuits alleging Title IX violations against school policies that permit transgender students to access the bathrooms consistent with their gender identities. The Third and Ninth Circuits have ruled against these claims.

Every student deserves to learn in a safe and supportive setting, free from discrimination. As the Department of Education has reaffirmed, discrimination based on sex—including sexual orientation and gender identity—isn’t just wrong, it’s prohibited in America’s schools. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students experience bullying, harassment, and other discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Some federal surveys collect data on the characteristics and well-being of sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. Inclusion of questions about sexual orientation (SO) and gender identity (GI) on federal surveys allows for better understanding of SGM populations relative to the general or other population groups, including economic, housing, health, and other differences. These insights can lead to potential resources and interventions needed to better serve the community. Further, these data meet critical needs to understand trends within larger population groups.