Don’t Filter Good Info

What do the Web sites for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), National Day of Silence and It Gets Better Project have in common? They are all Web sites for advocacy groups that address LGBTQ-related issues, and they are also some of the most common Web sites blocked by schools.

If you’ve ever tried to access one of these Web sites at your school and come across this message, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

But before you give up all hope and bang your head against the keyboard, you should report the blocking to the Don’t Filter Me campaign, sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

It is illegal for public schools to prohibit students from viewing LGBT advocacy content, but allow them to reach anti-LGBT material online. Check out the ACLU’s Don’t Filter Me campaign to learn what domains are most commonly filtered. You can then find out if they’re filtered at your school. If there are restrictions on sites, like Sexetc.org and DayofSilence.org, that provide useful information for teens, visit the Don’t Filter Me campaign and complete a brief form. The ACLU can look into the situation and help you fight back!

—Cynthia Lam, 17, Staff Writer