Middle and high school years are some of the most impressionable, and also most traumatic, times for many LGBT students. According to a 2005 Harris Interactive online poll titled "From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers," LGBT students are three times as likely as non-LGBT students to say that they do not feel safe at school. 65% (or two-thirds) of the 3,400 students surveyed reported that they have been verbally or physically harassed or assaulted during that past school year.
The most common reason for harassment was a student’s appearance or body size. The next most common was perceived sexual orientation.
Kevin Jennings, Founder and Executive Director of GLSEN (or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) warns, "Students who experience harassment are more likely to miss classes which can impact a student’s ability to learn."
These harsh realities are even more disturbing when coupled with the 33% of gay youth that attempt suicide each year partly due to the harassment they experience coming out.
We all want safe environments in which our kids can learn. Here are steps teachers and school administrators can take to help ease the climate of anti-gay harassment and verbal assaults in the classroom.
Set the tone and lead by example.
Majority of students don't report incidents of anti-gay harassment because they believe their teachers or the administration either don't care or can't do anything to change the situation. That's why it's important to establish a tone of zero acceptance of anti-gay abuse at the beginning of and throughout the entire school year.
Although authoritative statements to your students about your low tolerance for anti-gay comments or harassment is recommended, it also helps to lead by example.
Anti-gay sentiment among teens is rooted in many places, but most often by parents, family members or even friends who leave lasting negative impressions of LGBT people. Most of the anti-gay sentiment they hear is based on ignorance and lack of awareness.
You can help counter negative gay sentiment by showing your students positive examples of LGBT people in our society. Mention the influences prominent and everyday LGBT people have on our culture. Speak with comfort and confidence, mentioning LGBT people or issues in casual conversations. (Your students will pick up on your high level of comfort with LGBT topics and will hopefully follow suit.)
Discuss how harmful verbal assaults can be to any person. Share the student harassment statistics given in the previous step and the high gay teen suicide rate of 33%. Then express how through your support and their acceptance of LGBT people you hope to lower those statistics.
Work LGBT issues into your lesson plan.
Use a little creativity and do a little homework of your own to introduce diversity into your lesson plan. Teaching English? Dedicate time specifically for LGBT authors. Are you the drama instructor? Mention actors that are kids of gays, such as Anne Heche, Dorothy Dandridge and Judy Garland (more kids of gays). Teaching Math? Talk about the national origin of famous theorists then work that into a discussion about gay rights in that land (see gay life around the world).
If you're smooth enough few may notice that you started out talking Socrates and ended with the Stonewall riots. Indirectly, you're aiding them in seeing LGBT people as positive contributors to society.
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Combat the stereotypes.
Most anti-gay sentiment is based on ignorance or lack of understanding. For years, LGBT people have been portrayed in stereotypical ways in mass media, which spreads into society's general perceptions about LGBT people. Steer clear of general gay myths and stereotypes and be open with your students about what those generalizations are.
Don't be afraid to call them out on their misconceptions. Immediately counter any generalization and stereotypes with the facts: LGBT people are individuals that represent all facets of culture and society, few of which are represented on television or in the movies.
Suggested Reading:
Top Myths About Gay Men
Top Myths About Bisexuality
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Counter anti-gay jokes.
Anti-gay jokes create feelings of isolation, helplessness, fear and loneliness for gay, lesbian or transgender teens in the midst of a cloud of laughter. Even the kids that aren't necessarily anti-gay may laugh at the gay kids out of fear or peer pressure. All it takes is the perception that a kid if gay for them to become a verbal or physical target.
Keep in mind that most of the kids that are harassed don't speak up, so it's up to you to set a tone that anti-gay jokes will not be tolerated.
Try not to wait until after the joke subsides. Even though many teen jokes happen in a flash, try and dispel their potency by immediately explaining why they shouldn't joke about LGBT people. Reference the gay statistics in the first step and discuss the impact jokes and comments have on all student.
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Don't single out the gay kids.
You obviously care about the safety and wellbeing of your gay students. There may be a tendency, however, to give your LGBT kids special treatment, treat them like victims or use them as examples.
When talking about diversity in your classroom, try not to use your LGBT students as examples. Many LGBT teens are just coming into their sexual identity and often feel isolated as it is. Identifying them to the class or using them as "gay poster children" will only increase their feelings of isolation (and, frankly, make them more of a target for harassment).
Dispel jokes, rumors and comments without making your LGBT students feel like victims. And of course, try and show support without coddling.
You'll find that your LGBT teens are some of your strongest despite their perils. They need your support, but they also need to be teens.
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Exposure and awareness are your biggest allies when creating an inclusive learning environment. By now you've made it clear to your students that you support diversity in your classroom, now show the entire school. This is not as intimidating as you might think.
A great way to help school-wide diversity and create a safer haven for LGBT students is by:
- Sponsoring a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) chapter at your school. GSA is a student-run club which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation and work to end homophobia. Go to the GSA Network site for more information.
- Inviting PFLAG to your school for a safer school training.
- Contacting your local LGBT Community Center. They often have teen and student programs and volunteers that can assist you in creating a safer school.
- Inviting local LGBT professionals and speakers to your school to discuss LGBT issues and diversity. Many LGBT people are willing to give back to the community. Take advantage of this philanthropy by inviting them to make a difference at your school.
Urge your school administration to help you help your students by establishing an anti-discrimination policy or by explicitly including LGBT people in their existing anti-discrimination policies.
Your students take your lead, especially at impressionable teen ages. Their view of the world is still developing and can often be wrongly influenced if they aren't shown other alternatives. You, as their teacher, play an important role in molding these teens for the future.
How you speak of, portray or act towards lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people can have a lasting impact on your students' view of LGBT people and LGBT issues.
Their view of LGBT people directly relates to how they interact with other teens that happen to be LGBT. Some teens attack (either through words or violence) what they don't understand or perceive as different or weak, creating unsafe condition for those that are considered outsiders.
You can help create a safer school environment by educating all students and increasing their positive awareness of LGBT people and diversity. Set the tone, dispel gay stereotypes, have little tolerance for jokes or comments, and show your support for LGBT students through an open door policy and sponsored programs.
Acceptance and diversity is an ongoing process and it takes the commendable efforts of committed individuals such as yourself to help create a more inclusive environment for LGBT teens and all people.