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Kicked Out For Being Gay, Young Man Goes On 'America's Got Talent' And Stuns Judges

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- A 20 year old unemployed youth from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, told America's Got Talent's judges that his parents had kicked him out for being Gay. Jonathan Allen was thrown out of his house on his 18th birthday for being gay, he then was unemployed and decided to pursue his dream of singing by going on Americas Got Talent.

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California

Bill Supporting Transgender Students Goes to the Senate Floor

SACRAMENTO -- The California Senate Education Committee passed AB 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act, a bill that provides support for transgender students, Wednesday by a vote of 5-2. 

Under AB 1266, California’s public schools would be required to respect a transgender student’s identity in all school programs, activities, and facilities. The bill will provide guidance to district and school leaders about how to meet their obligations to protect the safety and well being of all students, including those that are transgender.

“Transgender students should not have to overcome additional barriers as they pursue their education. Like any other students, they shouldn’t be singled out and excluded,” said Joel Baum, a former middle school science teacher, principal and district administrator.

Baum is currently the Director of Education and Training at Gender Spectrum and professor of Educational Leadership at CSU East Bay.

The measure also ensures that students who are transgender have equal access to facilities and activities like sports teams that match their gender.

“All I want to do is go to school and have the same opportunity to succeed as everyone else,” said Ashton Lee, a 16-year-old transgender boy from Manteca who came to Sacramento with his mother to testify at the committee hearing. 

“I just want to be treated the same as all the other boys, but my school forces me to take P.E. in a class of all girls and live as someone I’m not. Every day in that class leaves me feeling isolated and alone, making it extremely difficult to learn.”

California law already prohibits discrimination in education, but transgender students are often still unfairly excluded from physical education, athletic teams, and other school activities and facilities. 

The measure is sponsored by Assemblymen Tom Ammiano, (D-San Fran.), and is co-sponsored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Fran.), Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).