The Sioux Falls School District blocks student access from several LGBT resource websites. Visitors are met with bold red "access denied" pages whenever they attempt to access sites such as "It Gets Better" and "GLADD".
According to USA Today, the Sioux Falls School District barred students from accessing LGBT resource websites and has prompted cries of discrimination and bias towards the institution. These targeted websites are no longer accessible to students who wish to visit them to seek help.
A sophomore student from New Technology High School commented, "It's just being denied about who you are and that it's just not OK... You feel like you don't belong... It would be very similar if you were to block a black rights movement website or any other type or major rights movement."
Meanwhile, conservative websites such as "Family Resource Council" and "Focus on the Family" remain open and available for those wishing to use them. According to Argus Leader, the school internet filters, which sift through millions of websites and subsequently categorize them for blockage, have been labeled as discriminatory.
Bob Jensen, who is in charge of assessment, technology and information services for the district, said that they would rather be strict than lenient. The websites that land on the block list include pornography, gambling and those promoting terrorism.
According to another article on Teen Vogue, one way to gain access to these blocked sites may be to request it from an administrator or a teacher. However, this may be difficult for some students to do especially if they are still discreet about their sexuality. Ashley Joubert-Gaddis, Sioux Falls Center for Equality' director of operations said, "If they don't have access to finding those communities or information on how to find those communities, then it's very dangerous."
Most LGBT resource websites aim to aid people, specifically teenagers, towards understanding, coping and living with their chosen sexual orientation by providing a sense of community. These online resources also promote a sense of belongingness among its members and for those struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide.
