Being part of the LGBTQ+ community as a kid can often be intimidating — and the policies that govern Delaware’s schools aren’t always designed to be inclusive of students who identify as part of these communities. That’s why we have launched a new resource: a “Know Your Rights” (KYR) handbook that aims to help students, parents, and educators learn their rights when it comes to LGBTQ+ expression in schools.
This online guide is also available as a print handbook. We encourage schools to make copies of this handbook available to their students and educators. Any school or community organization that wishes to have hard copies of the handbook can reach out to Melissa Bryson, ACLU-DE development director, to request copies at no charge: mbryson@aclu-de.org.
DID YOU KNOW...
That expressing your identity and ideas is like, super American? In fact, it’s one of the most important aspects of life in America. It’s so important that it’s protected by our Constitution in the Bill of Rights. In fact, it’s the very first thing mentioned in the Bill of Rights! That’s how important the Founders felt freedom of expression was to this nation, that they included protections in the very first amendment to the Constitution.
What is the First Amendment?
The First Amendment says exactly this: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
If that sounds like a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo, don’t worry, the First Amendment’s been around a long time, and we’ve had a lot of time to figure out what that means.