JARRELL, Texas – Después de varias apelaciones a oficiales escolares y de distritos, a una estudiante lesbiana de preparatoria en una ciudad pequeña de Texas, se le permitirá llevar a su pareja del mismo sexo a la fiesta “prom” mañana por la noche (sábado).

La estudiante Allison Brawley de dieciocho años, tuvo que luchar para conseguir ese derecho. Todo comenzó en febrero cuando el director de su escuela sugirió que Brawley y su novia llevaran, cada una, a un invitado hombre como pareja oficial al prom para no romper con las reglas de la fiesta que prohíbe asistencia a parejas del mismo sexo. Pero esa no fue una solución satisfactoria para ella.

“Honestamente, prefiero tener los mismo derechos que todos los demás.”

Con la ayuda de su madre, apeló al comisario del distrito presentándole una petición con firmas de más de la mitad de los estudiantes y algunos maestros apoyando su petición. Pero no fe hasta que Brawley pidió que la Unión de Libertades Civiles de Texas (ACLU, por sus siglas en inglés) se involucrara, que el distrito cambió el reglamento sobre parejas del mismo sexo para el prom.

Stephanie Bauman, abogada con la ACLU de Texas, fue quien negoció con los abogados del distrito escolar, y dice que su organización con frecuencia interviene en casos como este en otras partes del país, usualmente sin tener que llegar a una demanda legal.

“En la mayoría de los casos, una vez que se inicia la conversación, el distrito entiende que lo que se pide es lo que se debe hacer, y terminan permitiendo que los estudiantes lleven a parejas del mismo sexo al prom. Por lo menos últimamente estos casos se han resuelto de manera amistosa.”

Brawley planea estudiar Bioquímica en la Universidad Southwestern el próximo semestre. Dice que ve como está evolucionando rápidamente la opinión pública de los derechos de las personas LGBT, aún en ciudades pequeñas como Jarrell, y acredita a sus colegas y amigos por tomar ese camino.

“En verdad creo que muchas personas de mi edad son más abiertos y no les molesta las parejas o matrimonios del mismo sexo. Espero que algún día logremos matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo en Texas. Sería en verdad fantástico.”

También dice que se siente orgullosa de haber abierto las puertas para otras parejas del mismo sexo que quieran atender a proms futuros. Aunque ha recibido comentarios negativos por parte de algunos estudiantes y maestros, dice que la mayoría apoyan su esfuerzo.

Bauman con el ACLU dice que existe una lección para otros estudiantes LGBT de Texas.

“Si sienten que los están tratando de manera distinta bajo cualquier circunstancia - no solo el prom - poder ver que defenderse a si mismos es una manera que funciona y puede traer resultados positivos.”

Añade que aunque parezca que en las ciudades pequeñas del país se está incrementando la aceptación de derechos civiles y gays, un cambio así no sucede de la noche a la mañana. Solo hace dos años, una preparatoria en Fulton, Mississippi, canceló su prom en lugar de dejar que una pareja del mismo sexo atendiera después de que la ACLU prevaleció ante la corte representando a la estudiante lesbiana.



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A new report found Muslim students in New York City public schools face high levels of discrimination in school.

The report from the Council on American Islamic Relations-New York showed close to 60% of students surveyed were bullied by another student for being Muslim. Almost half reported having their hijab tugged, pulled or offensively touched by another student. Most felt reporting such incidents will not make a difference.

Sarah Shahlan, research project coordinator for the council, said it has only escalated since the war in Gaza began last year.

"A lot of incidents were being reported to CAIR New York from students in schools about repression and being suspended and having disciplinary action against themselves," Shahlan reported. "It's simply because of expressing their views."

She added students also face bullying because they physically look Muslim. The report's recommendations included creating anti-bullying policies and developing a task force for Islamophobia to understand the challenges Muslim students face. Shalan acknowledged some challenges to put them into action are if schools are willing to take them seriously and if schools have resources to do them.

Muslim students are not just facing bullying from their peers, as 29% of students reported a school faculty member made offensive comments or acted offensively toward Muslims.

Shahlan noted the report outlined why the incidents often go unreported.

"A lot of the students don't feel that it's necessary to report these incidents or that they don't feel comfortable reporting to an adult at school," Shahlan outlined. "One of the key findings was that over 70% of the students didn't report to adults at school."

She wants state policymakers to understand the takeaways in the report are a small part of a much broader issue Muslims face. During the previous legislative session, New York state lawmakers introduced legislation designed to curb discrimination and harassment in schools. One bill called for creating an educational program to prevent discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression but it failed in committee.


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A year-old U.S. Supreme Court case means relief for two Nebraskans who faced losing their homes and all the equity they had built, when investment firms bought their property for unpaid property taxes.

Legal Aid of Nebraska, with Pacific Legal Foundation as lead counsel, appealed a Nebraska State Supreme Court ruling saying the homeowners were not entitled to the equity in their homes.

In Pacific Legal's landmark 2023 case, Tyler v. Hennepin, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled homeowners in such a situation must be paid for any surplus equity, after taxes and fees. It vacated the decision of the Nebraska Supreme Court, which, upon revisiting the case, concluded the Nebraska homeowners must receive "just compensation" for their equity.

Christina Martin, senior attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation, said the Tyler decision could open doors for others similarly affected.

"The bottom line is, people who think they have a claim should reach out to Legal Aid of Nebraska," Martin urged. "They could also reach out to property rights attorneys, eminent domain attorneys. And ultimately, this decision is going to protect Nebraska's weakest population the most."

Martin explained, subject to states' statutes of limitations, the Tyler decision is fully retroactive. She added tax foreclosures disproportionately affect older or low-income homeowners, or those with medical conditions.

Caitlin Cedfeldt, staff attorney of the Housing Justice Project for Legal Aid of Nebraska, said it's a victory for the two homeowners and all Nebraskans.

"It is still possible for someone to lose their home, but if they are going to lose the home, they are going to at least get the equity out of it," Cedfeldt explained. "It's kind of incredible that both of these elderly clients will have a chance maybe at keeping their homes."

Cedfeldt pointed out it was the first case Legal Aid of Nebraska filed before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2023, several years after these homeowners' cases were initiated, Nebraska law was changed to require that homeowners receive any surplus equity in property tax foreclosures.


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A U.S. Senate subcommittee has uncovered widespread abuse of pregnant and postpartum women incarcerated nationwide, including in Georgia.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, said its research has found more than 200 reported cases of human rights violations against women in state prisons and jails. He said the abuses range from neglect during labor to newborns being taken away immediately after birth.

"We've heard from mothers forced to give birth in prison showers, hallways or on dirty cell floors," he said. "Mothers who gave birth into toilets, after being told they were 'not in labor.'"

Despite laws in 41 states including Georgia that prohibit or restrict shackling pregnant and postpartum people in prison, the subcommittee said violations were found in at least 16 states.

During last week's hearing, Jessica Umberger, who gave birth in a Georgia state prison, testified about the abuse she endured. She recounted being forced to have a Cesarean section, and said she was denied proper hygiene and placed in solitary confinement shortly after the birth.

"I was put in solitary when my baby was only five days old," she said. "In solitary confinement, I had no medical support. The staples in my stomach from my C-section had not dissolved, and there was no air conditioner."

The senators also heard from Dr. Carolyn Sufrin, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She suggested changes to address mistreatment and improve conditions for those who are pregnant behind bars.

"There are many opportunities for policy and practice change that could improve conditions and the well-being of pregnant and postpartum women in prisons and jails, as well as for their newborns," she said. "One is to find a pathway to require medical standards of care."

She said expanding Medicaid to cover people in prison could help enforce these standards.

Ossoff stressed the need for bipartisanship, and said further investigation is needed.