Dear PFLAG member --

 

Does your child’s high school have a “Gay-Straight Alliance” club?  Do you know of any schools that require parental permission to join school clubs?  Parental permission for clubs can make it difficult for a closeted or questioning teen to find the safe space he or she needs in a GSA.

 

The American Civil Liberties Union would like to hear from students who were prevented from joining school clubs because their parents were unwilling or unavailable to sign permission forms, or they were afraid to ask for permission.  We would also like to hear from students involved in clubs that lost members or were unable to form because not enough students were able/willing to ask their parents.

 

This is not limited to students afraid to tell their parents about a Gay-Straight Alliance meeting.  What if mom says no to the Young Republicans Club or a pro-choice club because she disagrees with her child’s political interests?  What is a student wanting to learn about the Bible in a Christian Bible study club is afraid to tell his non-religious parents?  What if parents are simply absent and not around to sign permission slips to join the debate club, student council or any club?

 

Please contact the ACLU by email at schoolclubs@aclu.org if you or anyone you know has had a problem joining any school club because of parental permission policies.  Please forward this message far and wide.

 

Sincerely,

Joel Engardio

ACLU

schoolclubs@aclu.org