Federal LGBT School Discrimination Bill Faces Tough Challenge

House seems uninterested in taking it up

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.