Results: Proposed Bill Would Make Teachers Out Their LGBT Students

In Texas, Republican Sen. Konni Burton introduced a bill on Thursday, November 17 – which just so happened to be national Transgender Day of Remembrance – that would require public schools give parents "any general knowledge regarding the parent's child possessed by an employee of the district" and records "relating to the child's general physical, psychological or emotional well-being." This includes if the child, who has talked to a trusted school employee about their sexual orientation, but don't feel comfortable telling their parents about it yet, for a number of reasons. Do you agree with this bill?

According to LGBT rights groups, Burton's bill is a direct attack on a vulnerable population: LGBT kids who aren't ready to come out to their parents — but want to talk about it with someone they trust. In many cases, that's a school counselor, teacher or nurse. Their job is to do the opposite of what Burton's bill suggests: Provide a safe and confidential space for students to express their emotions. If passed, this bill would effectively erase every child's right to confide in a counselor, teacher or nurse. Do you feel the parents have the right to know about this, even when their child is not yet ready to tell them?

"If your kid is gay, and can tell his teacher, but hasn't told you, then you are the problem," said Steve Rudner, Equality Texas board chair. "If a kid can tell a teacher but not their parent, it is a pretty good indication that your child is scared of you and the consequences of telling you, and you are who the kid needs to be protected from." Do you agree?

Have you ever confided in a trusted person -- counselor, teacher, friend, community or religious leader -- and had them betray your trust by telling someone else?

To build strong lines of communication, confidence or trust is key. If a confidence is broken, then that person will not confide in you again, and the lines of communication are compromised. Do you think that school teachers and counselors have an obligation to their students to keep what goes on between them to themselves at all times?