The ACLU is working to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in Illinois. Our Youth at Risk Program recognizes that many LGBTQ youth encounter additional challenges of bullying and harassment in schools and other government-run institutions (such as foster homes and juvenile detention centers) while also possibly struggling for acceptance within their own families. The Youth at Risk Project mobilizes entire communities by organizing Safe School Initiatives to educate the public, and school administrators and faculty about the problems of school bullying. Recently, the project created and shared a brochure entitled You Have a Right to Be Yourself with school administrators and other youth advocates across the state.

In 2009, the ACLU helped pass an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, providing a remedy for victims of hostile or discriminatory classroom conduct (minority, disabled or gay students, for example) so that severe or pervasive harassment may be remedied even when school officials fail to take corrective action.