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| American Psychological
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http://www.apa.org/ed/hlgbschclim.html
School Climate.....
Search the Project's Database The Project's database of articles and book chapters related to LGB youth & health. All students, including lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth, deserve the right to a school environment that is safe and conducive for learning to occur. However, there is evidence that significant challenges remain for creating positive school climates for LGB youth. For example:
97% of high school students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks. Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth: Report of the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, 1993.)
One study found 18.4% of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual students had been in a physical fight resulting in treatment by a doctor or nurse compared to 4% of their peers, and 22.2% skipped school in the past month because they felt unsafe on route to or at school, compared to 4.2% of their peers. (Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts Department of Education, 1997)
In a national survey, youth described being called lesbian or gay as the most deeply upsetting form of sexual harassment they experienced. (American Association of University Women, 1993)
The Healthy LGB Students Project is planning on developing
materials for school leaders on how they can improve the climate of the nation’s
schools for LGB students. In addition, there are several policies and
resources regarding LGB youth and school climate that are available on-line:
Policies:
American Federation of Teachers. (1990). Educational Equity for Sexual
Minorities. Adopted by the Delegates of the Convention.
http://www.aft.org//human/resource/download/keeping.pdf
American Federation of Teachers. (1994). Rights of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual
People. Adopted by the Delegates of the Convention.
http://www.aft.org//human/resource/download/keeping.pdf
American Federation of Teachers. (1996). Safety in All Schools.
Adopted by the Delegates of the Convention.
http://www.aft.org//human/resource/download/keeping.pdf
American School Counselor Association. (1995). The Professional School
Counselor and the Sexual Orientation of Youth. Adopted by the Delegate
Assembly. http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.cfm?L1=1000&L2=31
American School Health Association. (1994). Gay and Lesbian Youth in School.
Adopted by the Board of Directors
http://www.ashaweb.org/resolutions1.html#familylife
National Association of School Nurses. (1994). Sexual Orientation Position
Statement. Adopted by the Board of Directors.
http://www.nasn.org/positions/orientation.htm
National Association of School Psychologists. (1999). Position Statement on
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth. Adapted by the NASP Delegate Assembly.
http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/pospaper_glb.pdf
National Education Association. (2000). Racism, Sexism, and Sexual Orientation
Discrimination. Resolution B-9 as Adopted by the Representative Assembly.
http://www.nea.org/resolutions/00/00b-9.html
National School Boards Association. (2000). Non-Discrimination Belief and
Policy of the National School Boards Association. Adopted by the Delegate
Assembly.
http://www.nsba.org/about/beliefs.htm#Article
II
School Social Work Association of America (2001) Resolutions Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Questioning Youth. Approved by the Board of Directors. http://www.sswaa.org/about/publications/resolutions/glb.html
Resources:
Just the
Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals,
Educators and School Personnel. A booklet for school personnel developed and
endorsed by numerous mental health and teachers’ professional organizations. For
hard copies (limited amounts), please contact Renee Lyles of the American
Psychological Association: rlyles@apa.org
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Back-to-School Kit. This kit gives
resources on promoting safer schools for lesbian and gay students. The Kit
highlights trends, action steps, and resources for securing fair treatment for
lesbian and gay youth.
http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/documents/record?record=690
GLSEN’s Guide to Discrimination and Harassment Policies in Schools. This
webpage gives basic information on considering the how-to’s of helping to
protect gay and lesbian youth from harassment in schools based on effective
policy.
http://www.glsen.org/templates/resources/
PFLAG’s From Our House to the School House: A Recipe for Safe Schools. This
resource helps you conduct an assessment on school safety for LGB youth in
your local school or district. -- Updated
version coming soon
The American Civil Liberties Union has a Lesbian and Gay Rights Project that
seeks to address efforts to help schools address homophobia before it occurs
and escalates. Information is available on tips for schools and community,
statistics on gay youth, and how to contact the ACLU for help and information.
http://www.aclu.org/issues/gay/safe_schools.html
