Background of colorful notebooks with the text "Student Advocacy Toolkit" front and center

Know Your Rights for Students

October 1, 2023
Every student has the right to learn in an environment where they feel valued and can think for themselves.

Every student has the right to learn in an environment where they feel valued and can think for themselves. This fundamental promise of our democracy is under attack in Virginia. But you have the power to stop it.

Below are some frequently asked questions about students' rights in school, including topics such as bathroom access, sports team, affirming name & pronouns, Pride displays, and students' right to protest. Scroll for more information about your rights and what you can do to advocate for yourself and your peers.

Go back to the Student Advocacy Toolkit

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND ALLIES, INCLUDING ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

For the latest updates on the Youngkin administration's VDOE 2023 model policies, check out this action hub.

Local Advocacy

Parents, educators, and allies have the power to make change where you are.

Young people know their own identities best and deserve support from their parents, caregivers, and communities.

It’s up to adults to make sure the young people in their lives have the resources they need to succeed. That’s especially true for LGBTQ+ young people, who statistically are less likely to have a supportive home environment: according to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth described their home as gender-affirming.

You can support the young people in your community by advocating for policies that protect their identities and their ability to participate in all the activities and spaces that their peers do. You can also provide resources and create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students. Research what’s available in your community before you get started and see if there are people already working on behalf of LGBTQ+ young people who could use your help.

  • Read up on the policies of your local schools and organizations. If you can’t find it, email a principal or superintendent for a copy of it.

  • Read about your local representatives’ positions on LGBTQ+ rights and make sure they hear from you. You can find your legislators here.

  • Attend school board meetings. You can find when your school board meets and what is on the agenda using Equality Virginia’s school board tracker here.

  • Reach out to organizations like Equality Virginia to be plugged into their network of advocates.

  • Plug into existing local parent-based LGBTQ+ organizations like PFLAG, Side by Side, or He She Ze & We or organize get-togethers to support parents of LGBTQ+ children so that they can better support their children.

  • Speak up. Remember, other adults in your community need to hear from adults like you to implement good policies for young people. Use social media tools to express your support for LGBTQ+ students.

I want to support LGBTQ+ students in my community. What can I do?