1. Stefanie Hassing, AU Graduate Student
The importance of advocating for LGBT+ youth in schools and the community
Stefanie Hassing, AU Graduate Student

2. What we will cover… LGBT+ adolescents unique population needs Advocacy
Classroom
School/Community
Legislation relevant to this particular community and academic environments
Community and Information Resources

3. LGBT+ Population Suicide Substance use
Depression, anxiety and self-harm
Bullying
Safety
Sexual risk-taking

4. Risk Factors Unsupportive home Unsupportive/hostile school environment
Minority Stress: Increased prejudice, stigma, discrimination, denial of rights, abuse, harassment, victimization
Lack of peer support
Lack of resources
NAMI, 2018

5. Protective Factors Accepting home environment
Safe spaces (at school and in community)
Peer support
Being “out” versus “closeted”
NAMI, 2018

6. Suicide
LGBT+ youth are 2-3 times more likely to commit suicide (ODPHP, 2018)
Between 38-65% of transgender youth experience suicidal ideation
Lack of family support can increase that number significantly, up to 8 times more likely
One of the leading causes of death for LGBT+ ages (NAMI, 2018)

7. Substance use Higher rate of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use
20-30% of LGBT+ abuse substances, versus 9% of the general population
GLSEN, 2015

8. Depression, anxiety & self-harm
3 times more likely to have a mental health diagnosis like major depression or anxiety disorder
Isolation, unhealthy home or school environments, discrimination, fear and stress of coming out, minority stress (i.e. violation of rights, prejudice, abuse, harassment)
Self-harm is 3-4 times more likely to occur in LGBT+ youth than their heterosexual peers
Six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression
NAMI, 2018; GLSEN, 2015

9. Bullying
85.2% of LGBT+ students report experiencing verbal harassment in the past school year
27% physically harassed (pushing)
13% physically assaulted
LGBT+ are 2x more likely to report cyberbullying
As of 2015, 48.6% of LGBT+ students report cyberbullying
59.6% experience sexual harassment
98% have heard derogatory terms and comments directed at them
GLSEN, 2015; Wiederhold, 2014

10. Bullying continued
57.6% chose not to report to staff due to doubts of effective intervention
63.5% who did report noted no intervention and/or told the student to ignore it
GLSEN, 2015; Wiederhold, 2014

11. Safety 57.6% of LGBT+ students have felt unsafe at school
More likely to avoid school functions and extracurricular activities due to fear of safety
3 times more likely to have skipped school in the past month for fear of physical safety
LGBT+ youth are more likely to be homeless
GLSEN, 2015; ODPHP, 2018

12. Sexual Risk Taking
Georgia sex education typically does not contain non-heterosexual specific information (Blanding & Sledge, 2017)
Minority LGBT+ adolescents are higher risk of contracting STIs and HIV (Bridges, 2007)
Transgender adolescents are more likely to have STIs and victimizations (ODPHP, 2018)

13. What level of education do you think LGBT+ students experience the highest frequencies of harassment?
Middle School
Also less likely to have access to resources: GSA (14.5% vs. 61.2% for high school) and supportive educators
GLSEN, 2015

14. So what does this all mean for you?
Research proves that 1) supportive school staff, 2) inclusive curriculum, 3) GSAs (and other student-led clubs) and 4) comprehensive and enumerated policies help to improve school climate, academic achievement and student well-being (GLSEN, 2015)
Teachers are the first line. Kids spend more time at school than home in most circumstances
Education
Action & Change

15. Education Learn about gender identities Be informed!
Examine your own personal beliefs
Listen to each student’s story
ASK QUESTIONS
Find local resources
Determine your particular school’s policies regarding LGBT+ students
GLSEN, 2015

16. Action & Change
Affirm complex identities—Just Ask and don’t make assumptions
Respect confidentiality
Gain additional training
Suicide
Safe Space
Establish or back GSAs and other diversity clubs
Create a Safe Space
Challenge or discuss school policies
Know when and where to get help
Protect from harassment!
GLSEN, 2015

17. Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs)
Reduces hostile school environment
Reduction in skipping school
More supportive school staff and accepting peers
Less likely to experience victimization due to their sexual orientation or gender expression
More connection to the community
GSA Connect at
GLSEN GSA Support at
Georgia Equality, 2017; GSA Network, 2018

18. Safe School Laws - Georgia
Statewide anti-bullying law in schools
Statewide anti-bullying regulation in schools based on sexual orientation (not gender identity)
Law requiring school suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies
Yearly training for suicide awareness/prevention for certified school personnel
(AFSP, 2017; UDHHS, 2017)

19. Safe School Laws- South Carolina
Statewide anti-bullying law in schools
No regulations or requirements for protections specifically for sexual orientation or gender identity
No unique policies or programs for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention mandated
2 hours of suicide awareness/prevention training every 5 years
(AFSP, 2017; UDHHS, 2017)

20. Resources - Reports
Human Rights Campaign National Coming Out Day Report
Human Rights Campaign Gender-Expansive Report expansive-youth
GLSEN 2015 National School Climate Survey at

21. Resources- LGBT+ Ally GLSEN Safe Space Kit
FREE digital copy or $15 for hard copy
American Psychological Association
Resources and information for educators and administrators
Advocates for youth
Resources and lesson plans for implementing change and advocating for LGBT+ students

22. Resources- Suicide Prevention
Trevor Project
Suicide and crisis information specifically for LGBT+ youth
Lifeguard Workshop, FREE online
Free classroom and poster resources
It Gets Better Project

23. Resources – Suicide Prevention
Semicolon Project
Mental health education resource and suicide awareness & prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Regional conferences for LGBT+ Suicide Prevention education
More than Sad training (FREE)/Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention

24. Resources - Bullying www.Stopbullying.gov
Resource center and educator guidelines in awareness and prevention of bullying
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Resource guide for bullying and suicide prevention related to bullying

25. Resources
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (2017). Suicide Statistics. Retrieved from statistics/
Blanding, B. & Sledge, A. (2017). The Requirements and limitations of sex education in Georgia. VOXATL. Retrieved from
Bridges, E (2007). The impact of homophobia and racism on GLBTQ youth of color. Retrieved from
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). LGBT Youth. Retrieved from
Georgia Equality (2017). Youth and Safe Schools. Retrieved from
GLSEN (2015). The 2015 National School Climate Survey. New York, NY: GLSEN.
GSA Network (2018). Adults and Advisors. Retrieved from
Human Rights Campaign (2012). Support and Caring for our Gender Expansive Youth. Washington, DC: HRC.
Human Rights Campaign (2015). National Coming Out Day Report. Washington DC: HRC.

26. Resources Continued…
NAMI (2018). LGBTQ. Retrieved from
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2018). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. Retrieved from objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2017). Georgia anti-bully laws and policies. Retrieved from
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2017). South Carolina anti-bully laws and policies. Retrieved from
Wiederhol, B. K. (2014). Cyberbullying and LGBTQ Youth: A deadly combination. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(9),