Schooling, Sexual Orientation, Law, and Policy: Making Schools Safe for All Students

Abstract

Sexual minority youth are in the news as never before, and they are the topic of many public controversies. Research suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are often exposed to school environments that are hostile to them. As one might expect in these circumstances, sexual minority youth report feeling depressed, isolated, and even suicidal more often than do their peers. Laws and policies designed to make schools safer for sexual minority youth, greater inclusion of LGBT-related material in the curriculum, and establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) have all been proposed as ways to make schools safer for sexual minority students. The limited research evidence available now shows that the social climate for LGBT youth is more positive at schools with GSAs, but much remains to be learned. Overall, making schools safer for LGBT youth will require cooperation among school officials, teachers, parents, and others.