LGBT Students: our response as educators

Ashley Foster

What is LGBT?

Stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals

Sometimes a “Q” is added for individuals who are questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation

Our Goals as EducatorsWhat are some of the reasons you became a teacher?

Was it a passion for kids?

A passion for learning?

A desire to make a difference in students’ lives?

If we want ALL students to reach their potential, they need a safe and affirming

environment in which to learn

Why Middle School?When did you have your first crush?

Middle school is a time when students are starting to become attracted to one another

This may be a time when they discover a same-sex attraction

It is important that we are aware of LGBT issues so that we can be affirming of our student’s choices

Different Obstacles

Some of the obstacles LGBT students face include: bullying at school disrupting education, family rejection, and difficulties finding safe places to form supportive relationships

Higher rates of self-destructive behaviors among LGBT youth (drinking, drug taking, unsafe sexual practices and self-harm)

LGBT youth leave home earlier than their peers due to difficulties coming out and living as LGBT

(McDermott, Roen, & Scourfield, 2008; Muñoz-Plaza, Quinn, & Rounds, 2002)

Safe Schools

Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) provides 10 steps to safe schools:

1. Learn the Facts

2. Understand the Language

3. Stop Bad Behavior

4. Set the Policy

5. Plan School-Wide Activities

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

6. Be Public

7. Cyber Bullying

8. Train and Educate

9. Comprehensive Health Education

10. Resources

#1: Learn the Facts

86.2% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1% reported being physically harassed, and 22.1% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

73.6% heard derogatory remarks such as “faggot” or “dyke” frequently at school.

More than half (60.8%) of students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third (38.4%) felt unsafe because of their gender expression.

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#1: Learn the Facts

Negative effects on learning:

31.7% of LGBT students missed a class and 32.7% missed a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe, compared to only 5.5% and 4.5%, respectively, of a national sample of secondary school students.

The reported grade point average of students who were more frequently harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression was almost half a grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.8 versus 2.4).

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#1: Learn the Facts

To learn the facts about our school climate, we can administer “The Local School Climate Survey” provided by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)

(Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2010)

#2: Learn the Language

Sexual Orientation: Refers to one’s sexual and romantic attraction

Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of being male, female or somewhere in between

Gender Expression: How a person chooses to communicate their gender identity to others through clothing, hair, styles, mannerisms, etc. This may be conscious or subconscious.

Gay: A man whose primary romantic and sexual attraction is to other males. Gay is also used as an inclusive term.

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#2: Learn the Language

Lesbian: A woman whose primary romantic and sexual attraction is to other females

Bisexual: Men and women who have romantic and sexual attraction to both men and women

Transgender: A broad term describing the state of a person’s gender identity which does not necessarily match his/her given gender at birth

Queer: Some LGBT individuals use the word queer as an umbrella term. Be careful: some still find it offensive

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#3: Stop Bad Behavior

Main ideas:Don’t ignore discriminatory behaviors

Don’t excuse discriminatory behaviors

Managing Harassment:Do deal with the situation immediately

Do confirm that the particular type of abuse is hurtful and harmful and will not be tolerated

Do value everyone’s feelings by listening carefully

Do take those involved aside and discuss the incident

Do use it as a “teachable moment” if appropriate

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#3: Stop Bad Behavior

Managing Harassment:

Don’t less harassment pass unchallenged

Don’t overreact with a put-down to the offender

Don’t impose consequences before finding out exactly what happened from all individuals

Don’t embarrass either party publicly

Don’t assume the incident is isolated

Note: Some students use phrases such as “that’s so gay” or “faggot” in ways that are not meant to be discriminatory towards LGBT students. Do you think that makes it okay?

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#5: Plan School-wide Activities

Every member of the school community (students, parents, teachers, and administrators) should understand the school’s commitment to protect students from discrimination

FilmsLet’s Get Real (middle school) "Let's Get Real" trailer

BooksProvide resources in school library: www.safeschoolscoalition.org

Programs“Think Before You Speak Campaign” “Day of Silence” and more...

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009; Gay-Straight Alliance Network, 2010; Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, 2010)

#6: Be Public

Displaying a sign such as the PFLAG safe schools sign in your classroom shows students that you support diversity and oppose bullying and harassment

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#7: Cyber Bullying

Be aware that much of the harassment LGBT students face is online

Take it seriously. Cyber bullying can be just as hurtful as traditional bullying in school.

Educate your students about the realities of communicating online

(Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2009)

#10: Resources

There are many organizations and resources available to assist schools in providing a safe environment for LGBT students:

Safe Schools Coalition

GroudsparkTeaching ToleranceThe Trevor ProjectLambda LegalAdvocates for YouthThink Before You Speak

Our Next Step

Evaluate your personal values on this topic

Consider your goals for all students

Consider putting some of the strategies into practice to protect students from harassment

References

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. (2010). Think Before You Speak: Local School Climate Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/ForEducators/

Gay-Straight Alliance Network. (2010). Resources. Retrieved from: http://gsanetwork.org/resources

McDermott, E., Roen, K., & Scourfield, J. (2008). Avoiding shame: young lgbt people, homophobia and self-destructive behaviours. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10(8), 815-829.

Muñoz-Plaza, C., Quinn, S., & Rounds, K. (2002). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students: Perceived social support in the high school environment. The High School Journal, 85(4), 52-63.

Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays. (2009). Safe Schools for All. Retrieved from: http://community.pflag.org/Page.aspx?pid=1011