Policy

Federal LGBT School Discrimination Bill Faces Tough Challenge

House seems uninterested in taking it up

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With House Republicans seemingly unwilling to tackle the subject, don't look for legislation curbing discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students to move anytime soon.

Although the Student Non-Discrimination Act, introduced in the House last week, already has 119 cosponsors, only one — Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — is a Republican. And while supporters of the bill may look to tack it onto a broader secondary education package expected to move this session, a path for inclusion of the measure remains uncertain.

"This discrimination is completely unacceptable in schools. Kids need to feel safe going to school," Rep. Jared Polis, who along with Ros-Lehtinen is the primary sponsor of the bill, said late last week.