1. Creating a Safe School: Celebrating All
8th Grade Lesson from
Rights, Respect, Responsibility: A K-12 Sexuality Education Curriculum

2. What Is School Like for LGBTQ Students?

3. So… There’s Bad News and Good News…
School can be a hostile, unsafe place for LGBTQ students (depending on where you live)
School can be a welcome and affirming environment for students of all sexual orientations and genders
Which it will be depends on all of us!

4. Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
2013 National School Climate Survey

5. Harassment of LGBTQ students is still prevalent nationwide
85% of LGBT students surveyed had been harassed verbally

6. More than half of students frequently heard comments like “fag” or “dyke”

7. Sometimes, the bias isn’t violent – but it’s still discrimination
56% of LGBTQ students were discriminated against by school policy (being punished for a PDA, not allowed to form a GSA or not allowed to attend school function with date of the same gender).

8. LGBTQ students victimized at school:
What’s the Impact?
LGBTQ students victimized at school:
May have lower grades
Are less likely to plan to go to college
Often feel worse about themselves

9. (Wait – you said there was some good news…)
There is!
When schools and students make efforts to be more inclusive, the negative impacts go down or disappear altogether!
Efforts can include:
A gay-straight alliance or club
Course materials and books that include LGBTQ people in positive ways
Teachers and other school staff who promote the safety and inclusion of all students
Anti-bullying policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender.

10. When you have these things…
The use of hate speech goes down.
Students feel more connected to their school community
Students are less likely to miss school due to safety concerns
Student GPAs go up