Idaho Education News reported Monday that only 21% of Idaho School Districts protect both sexual orientation and gender identity through their policies. Slightly larger percentages protect sexual orientation or gender identity individually.
Protection for gay and transgender employees is not provided by Idaho state law, but individual workplace policies may choose to add these measures.
Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln of Add the Words Idaho, a campaign to add statewide protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, says she was disappointed in these numbers but not surprised.
She says the protection of teachers and staff will lead to safer and more accepting schools.
"That's going to be a ripple effect in setting a standard of how we treat our students," says Gaona-Lincoln.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take a look this year at whether the Civil Rights Act protects against sexuality and gender idenity discrimination in the workplace. This could impact Idaho’s policies.
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