Free to Be You and Me

Human rights group Children As They Are and parent organization Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) are striving to make gender discrimination and stereotyping in schools a thing of the past. The group—which is conducting a grassroots campaign to include gender discrimination in schools' zero tolerance polices—reported last year that more than 40 school districts encompassing more than 2.5 million students have adopted policies ensuring a safer learning environment for all students, regardless of their gender expression.

When asked why the organization works so hard to reduce gender discrimination in the school system, parenting director Taneika Taylor replied, "At some point in all of our lives, kids face pressures to conform to gender expectations. Too often they find themselves curtailing interests to avoid being ostracized or teased for not being the 'right' kind of girl or boy. We’re trying to make it OK for everyone to express themselves authentically."

GenderPAC provides resources for educators, parents, and students. For more information, go to www.childrenastheyare.org.