← Back to Bills
H.R. 1379House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act

Sponsored by David ScottRep. David Scott (D-GA)
Introduced February 25, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 11:20 PM UTC

The Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to explicitly include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) youth and their families in the law’s definitions, data‑collection requirements, and program activities. It seeks to improve identification, reporting, and response to child abuse and neglect affecting LGBTQ youth. The changes apply to federal agencies, state programs, and any organizations that receive CAPTA funding.

Key Provisions

  • Adds LGBTQ youth to the list of children whose abuse and neglect issues must be addressed under CAPTA.
  • Requires collection and reporting of data on sexual orientation and gender identity in child abuse statistics.
  • Mandates assessment and investigation of abuse cases involving LGBTQ youth.
  • Calls for inclusion of experts experienced with LGBTQ youth in advisory and service roles.
  • Expands coordination with organizations that serve vulnerable youth, including LGBTQ families, in CAPTA‑funded programs.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

February 25, 2021

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 25, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

February 25, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued February 25, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1379

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 2021

Mr. David Scott of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Kilmer, Mrs. Demings, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Neal, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Ms. Jacobs of California, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Jones, Mr. Morelle, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Norton, Ms. Scanlon, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Soto, Mr. Trone, Mr. Payne, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Jackson Lee, and Ms. Eshoo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their families.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act.

2.

Amendments to CAPTA

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 104 (42 U.S.C. 5105)—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

in paragraph (1)—

(I)

by redesignating subparagraphs (N) and (O) as subparagraphs (O) and (P), respectively;

(II)

by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following:

(N)

child abuse and neglect issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and families, including providing recommendations for improving the collection of data at the Federal, State, and local levels to better identify young people who may be at risk of, or experiencing, child abuse or neglect because of their sexual orientation or gender identity;

;

(III)

in subparagraph (O), as so redesignated, by striking subparagraph (O) and inserting subparagraph (P); and

(IV)

in clause (ix) of subparagraph (P), as so redesignated, by inserting (including sexual orientation and gender identity) after sex; and

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by striking paragraph (1)(O) and inserting paragraph (1)(P); and

(B)

in subsection (b), by inserting or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth after children with disabilities;

(2)

in section 105(a)(1)(E) (42 U.S.C. 5106(a)(1)(E)), by inserting and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth after children with disabilities;

(3)

in section 106(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5106a(d)(1)), by inserting , disaggregated by demographic characteristics such as age, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), race, family structure, household relationship, school enrollment and education attainment, disability, grandparents as caregivers, labor force status, work status in previous year, and income in previous year before the period;

(4)

in section 107 (42 U.S.C. 5106c)—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and

(ii)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

the assessment and investigation of cases involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who are suspected victims of child abuse or neglect;

;

(B)

in subsection (b)(5), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting paragraphs (1) through (4); and

(C)

in subsection (c)(1)—

(i)

by redesignating subparagraphs (G) through (J) as subparagraphs (H) through (K), respectively; and

(ii)

by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:

(G)

individuals experienced in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and families;

;

(5)

in section 201(b)(1)(G) (42 U.S.C. 5116(b)(1)(G)), by inserting (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and families) before the semicolon;

(6)

in section 202 (42 U.S.C. 5116a)—

(A)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting and families with other vulnerable youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth before the semicolon; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and public sector and private nonprofit sector service providers, and parents with disabilities and inserting public sector and private nonprofit sector service providers, parents with disabilities, and parents of other vulnerable youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth; and

(B)

in paragraph (3)—

(i)

in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(ii)

in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(E)

will integrate its efforts with individuals and organizations experienced in working in partnership with families with vulnerable youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, and with the child abuse and neglect prevention activities of the State, and demonstrate a financial commitment to those activities.

; and

(7)

in section 206(4) (42 U.S.C. 5116f(4)), by striking and parents with disabilities and inserting parents with disabilities, and families with other vulnerable youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth.