ACLU Campaign Targets Schools that Block LGBT Websites

The American Civil Liberties Union this week sent letters to schools in Missouri and Michigan telling them to stop blocking access to LGBT websites. Joshua Block, the staff attorney for the ACLU's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & AIDS Project, said the letters were sent as part of a nationwide campaign to ensure that public school students have access to educational websites about gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

According to the Associated Press, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, “The ACLU identified the schools it is contacting by working with the Yale Law School on a campaign called “Don't Filter Me,” which asked students to check to see if their schools are blocking content by having them look up eight LGBT sites. Five provide educational and support while the ACLU characterizes the other three as anti-gay for encouraging gays and lesbians to change their sexual orientation.”

The Missouri district blamed a technical problem for sites being blocked, and the Michigan district said it's looking into the matter.

In case you couldn’t tell, we’re entirely on the side of the ACLU and the Yalie law students on this one. Because in our experience, schools seem more likely to censor than not when left to their own devices. You can help out, too! See if YOUR school is violating your rights.