A federal judge on Monday approved a settlement that includes a series of reforms for an upstate New York school district in a gay student’s harassment lawsuit.
The New York Civil Liberties Union sued the Mohawk Central School District last August on behalf of a 14 year-old student who alleged that he was repeatedly harassed, threatened and physically assaulted at school for being gay and not conforming to gender stereotypes.
The lawsuit maintained that district officials were aware of the bullying and did nothing to stop it.
The lawsuit drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of the student, identified only as Jacob. That motion was pending when settlement negotiations commenced.
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As part of the settlement, the school district agreed to hold staff training on how to address harassment claims and to review its policies and procedures governing harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.