How to make schools safer for gay students

10-04-2010

Guest blog by Kevin G. Welner/Washington Post

The past several weeks have seen the suicides of at least four American teenage students (two just 13 years old) who were harassed and bullied because they were, or were thought to be, gay. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students face a unique set of safety concerns each day. Over 85% report being harassed because of their sexual or gender identity, and over 20% report being physically attacked. The suicide rate for LGBT students continues to be 3-4 times higher than that of their straight counterparts. School environments can be truly dangerous, and tragedies like those we’ve witnessed over the past month have become painfully foreseeable. Until school environments are made safe for LGBT students, we will predictably see a new series of suicides each fall as tormented students return to school and to their bullies. That’s why the National Education Policy Center and its partners asked two experts to come up with clear policy recommendations to address these safety concerns. (more…)

Also: New York Times

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