The Buffalo News
By Cindy Crane
Updated: 09/06/07 6:38 AM

Unfortunately, many students who don't fit society's heterosexual models or gender stereotypes feel unsafe. That's not right. Schools have an obligation to ensure the safety of all their students, including their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.

Ten states — California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin — have laws that require administrators to ensure a safe environment for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. Only California, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and New Jersey provide laws that protect transgender students (students who do not identify as the gender they were assigned at birth).