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NEA Issue Explainer

LGBTQ+ Rights

As Americans, we believe in equality and fairness for all, and together we can end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
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At the 2019 Representative Assembly, NEA members and then-President Lily Eskelsen García participate in a pride rally.
By: National Education Association
Published: December 2, 2021
This issue explainer originally appeared on NEA.org

LGBTQ+ people are subject to a patchwork of state and local laws that leave them vulnerable to discrimination in their daily lives, sending the message that they are second-class citizens. 

Discrimination against those who are LGBTQ+, wherever it exists, violates our nation’s core values.

LGBTQ+ youth are particularly vulnerable to prejudice and are more likely than their peers to be bullied, harassed, and attempt suicide.

We need federal laws that afford LGBTQ+ people consistent and explicit protections from discrimination, no matter where they live and work.

Saul Ramos
“Our students always deserve better, and we are the key to creating that success. Let’s stand with them and remind them every single day that they are perfect just the way they are.”
Quote by: Saul Ramos, Paraeducator/Braillist, Worcester Public Schools, Massachusetts

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The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) is our leading voice for educational excellence, for children and their families, and for the public schools they count on. As the public school employees union and the largest association of professional educators in North Carolina, our membership extends to all 100 counties and includes teachers, non-classified school staff, administrators, students, retirees, and community allies. NCAE believes that every child has a right to a high-quality education, an excellent teacher, and a well-funded school.
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The North Carolina Association of Educators is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

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