No student trying to visit the website for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) from a school computer should be confronted with a stop sign. But that's precisely what happened to a student in Virginia, which spurred our "Don’t Filter Me!" campaign.
The L.A. Times is joining the chorus of those who agree that schools shouldn't block access to LGBT organizations' websites. The It Gets Better Project, the GSA Network and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which all carry messages of self-acceptance and support, have all been blocked at various public schools around the country. Meanwhile, some schools permit access to anti-progressive sites that condemn the LGBT community, and encourage the suppression of the myriad LGBT points of view.
Blocking access to potentially vital information from LGBT youth, who may not have another safe space to browse the Internet, is both dangerous and illegal. Our schools should be joining organizations that promote a safe and positive atmosphere for every student -- not participating in discrimination against them.
