In November 2007, anti-LGBTQ organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging California’s safe schools laws that, among other things, protect students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In 2004, NCLR and the ACLU of Southern California filed suit against the Los Angeles Unified School District and Washington Preparatory High School for discriminating against students based on their sexual orientation. The students alleged that administrators, teachers, and staff repeatedly called students derogatory anti-gay names and made anti-gay comments, threatened to out students to their families, and failed to protect students from anti-gay assaults.

In 2005, a member of the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board issued a written memo stating that that the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) “endorse unhealthy sexual practices among youth, including sex between underage youth and adults.” NCLR issued a demand letter insisting that the statements be retracted.