DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is accusing the Central Bucks School District of discrimination against LGBTQ students. The complaint comes less than a week before the school board meets to discuss a proposed ban of pride flags and other symbols of support.
The ACLU filed a 71-page federal complaint, on behalf of seven students, with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
The complaint says the discrimination violates Title IX of the Education Amendments Act and points to what it calls the district’s chronic failure to take reasonable measures to address persistent and severe bullying and harassment.
It says the Central Bucks Board of School Directors majority, elected in November 2021, has made the hostile environment worse, pointing to several policies either recently adopted or proposed by the board, including one up for consideration next week that would ban any Pride or LGBTQ symbols.
The complaint says transgender students were so worried about bullying in the cafeteria during lunch, one student was eating in a bathroom until they were caught by a teacher.
Among the remedies proposed in the complaint: Order the district to follow Department of Education recommendations for support of transgender and other gender-nonconforming youth, and order mandatory training for staff, administration and board members on supporting LGBTQ youth.
Central Bucks Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh says the district will not comment on legal matters, but “we believe it is paramount that all students and teachers are cared for and respected as members of our learning and teaching community.”