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Education Action Alliance Responds to Federal Letter Targeting Student Privacy and LGBTQIA+ Youth



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2025

Phone: 602-341-5543


Phoenix, Arizona – Education Action Alliance firmly rejects the politically motivated attack on student privacy, LGBTQIA+ youth, and public schools contained in Secretary McMahon’s letter and Superintendent Horne’s push for proof of compliance.


Masked as a call for ‘parental rights’, this letter dangerously mischaracterizes the purpose of FERPA and PPRA and promotes a narrative rooted in fear, misinformation, and discrimination. Our schools should be places where all students – regardless of gender identity, race or background – feel safe, seen, and supported. 


This recent attempt to attack transgender Americans is part of a larger, coordinated campaign to erase transgender people from public spaces, schools, sports, and society at large. This rhetoric deliberately distorts the role of educators and school officials, demonizing those who provide critical care and affirmation to students navigating complex personal challenges. Every student deserves access to a supportive environment free from political interference and ideological surveillance.


For years, we have worked tirelessly to support LGBTQ+ youth in Arizona by advocating for safe, inclusive, and affirming educational environments. This new directive undermines the critical role schools must play in protecting and supporting all students, regardless of their gender identity or expression.


The guidance issued by Secretary McMahon – and Superintendent Horne following orders – misrepresents the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ students, particularly transgender youth. It promotes a narrative that undermines parental involvement in education while disregarding the lived realities of many LGBTQ+ students who face rejection, discrimination, and even danger at home. For these students, schools often serve as the only safe space where they can express themselves freely and receive the support they need.


Our mission at Education Action Alliance is to secure the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth in the K-12 education system, advocating for policies that dismantle barriers and ensure safe and inclusive spaces for all. We believe that the guidance issued not only threatens these students’ right to privacy but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes that place LGBTQ+ students at further risk. By pressuring schools to prioritize parental access to sensitive information about students’ gender identity, this guidance ignores the unique challenges faced by many LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those whose parents are unsupportive or harmful.

Education Action Alliance will continue to advocate for inclusive, honest, and affirming education. We call on community leaders, educators, and policymakers to stand up to this coordinated attack on civil rights and support students most at risk.


We stand with LGBTQ+ students and educators across Arizona who continue to push for positive, transformative change in our education system. We call on policymakers, educators, and community members to reject this divisive guidance and continue to prioritize the safety and inclusion of all students. It is crucial that we remember the core mission of education: to foster an environment where all students can learn, grow, and thrive.


As we have done for the past 23 years, we will continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth in Arizona, ensuring that their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their experiences are respected.



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Education Action Alliance (formerly the GLSEN Arizona Chapter) envisions healthy school communities free from discrimination where students, families, educators, and neighbors can thrive and succeed with joy, regardless of where they live or who they are. We work to dismantle barriers and drive systemic change in education by engaging in public advocacy and activating school community members through education and collective action. 

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