The State of the States 2004 report summarizes the laws affecting students, particularly, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) prepared this State of the States 2004 report to continue the comprehensive collection of data and information related to education issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, teachers, and staff. For the purposes of this report safe schools laws are statewide anti-harassment and/or nondiscrimination laws that are inclusive of the categories of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression and safe schools policies are those passed by a local educational agency (LEA) governing authority, generally a school board.