Noting an "ineffective patchwork of legal protections" for Illinois youth at-risk of harassment, discrimination and violence because of their sexual orientation (or their perceived sexual orientation) the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today announced the launch of its Youth at Risk Project. The Project, to be staffed by ACLU of Illinois lawyer Sarah Schriber, seeks to advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who are the victims of discrimination in schools or the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Illinois. The Project also seeks to lay the groundwork for passage of statewide safe school legislation and promote adoption of anti-discrimination policies. The new Youth at Risk Project is made possible by the establishment of a fellowship in honor of Chicago activist Jerry Newton.

Announcing the launch of the Project, the ACLU of Illinois today pointed out the need to seek legislation and policies that protect this particular population of youth. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, youth who question their sexual orientation, and youth who are perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ youth) are at a greater risk of physical and emotional harassment, homelessness, dropping out of school, drug use, depression and suicide than their straight peers. A number of national academic studies and reports highlight the problems faced by LGBTQ youth. According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, for example, more than 70% of LGBTQ students have been harassed, threatened or physically assaulted at school, and more than half have heard homophobic remarks from school staff. The National Mental Health Association reports that more than a quarter of LGBTQ youth - more than three times the national average - drop out of school. Other prominent national researches report that 42% of homeless youth are identified as LGBTQ and, most disturbingly, that LGBTQ youth are two to three times more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide.

"These statistics give us a sense of the scope of the challenges faced by this segment of our youth," said Schriber, an experienced ACLU of Illinois attorney who most recently worked on the organization's challenge to conditions at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. "Against this backdrop we see that there is an ineffective patchwork of legal protections. To date, there is no statewide legislation or policy to address these concerns, and a dire need for more efforts to ensure that every school official, official in the juvenile justice system and others who interact with youth have the training necessary to address the problems unique to LGBTQ youth."

The Project will work with other organizations that advocate for the needs of LGBTQ youth, and interested individuals, to address six (6) specific goals during the first year of operation: 1.) lay the groundwork for the passage of statewide safe schools legislation by the Illinois General Assembly; 2.) advocate non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and training to end harassment of LGBTQ students (including representing such students who are victims of harassment); 3.) help foster the development and growth of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in schools across the state; 4.) challenge discriminatory dress codes and censorship aimed at LGBTQ youth; 5.) assess the needs of Illinois LGBTQ youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and advocate for policies and training within these agencies to assist them to better serve the needs of LGBTQ youth; and, 6.) provide legal advice and representation to teachers and school staff, juvenile corrections officers, DCFS workers and others committed to protecting the LGBTQ youth in their care.

"We have set a very aggressive and ambitious agenda for the Project," added Schriber. "The need, however, is so great that we simply must jump start this work to assist children in our communities that are at-risk as a result of bias and discrimination."