GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
We are proud to release our 2011 National School Climate Survey today!
This new report provides a comprehensive snapshot of LGBT students’ experiences, and for the first time clearly shows both decreases in negative indicators of school climate and continued increases in most LGBT-related school resources and supports.
Education department staffers Jenny & Steven talk about how they work to empower educators to make schools safe for LGBT students. And what you can do to help.
Just a few minutes ago, the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education made a groundbreaking announcement – it intends to collect data in schools nationwide about anti-LGBT bullying as part of its Civil Rights Data Collection, an influential survey that is used to inform government action.
I’m proud to say that GLSEN’s longtime leadership in Washington urging the government to take action played an integral role in making this change happen. You won’t believe the interaction I witnessed firsthand that confirmed that in the most amazing way! But before I tell you that story, first back to what this change means.
This amazing development is something to celebrate and hopefully a trend of good news coming out of Washington in the coming days. Making civil rights data collection LGBT-inclusive is a critical step toward ensuring LGBT students’ civil rights. It also will further document the need for schools and policymakers to take action to ensure that LGBT students have equal access to a quality education.
But the backstory to this major advance is also incredibly exciting.
On May 22, I was at the White House for a Harvey Milk Day event, accompanying a delegation of GLSEN student leaders and staff. As we waited for the program to begin, a senior official from the Department of Education came running over to one of our students, Liam Arne.
“I need to shake your hand,” he said. “Because of you, the Secretary of Education is adding LGBT students to one of the most important Department of Education data collection instruments. You asked in that meeting, and afterward he told us to get it done!”
A few months earlier, we had taken Liam and three other GLSEN student leaders to meet Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. These amazing students wanted to stand up to make a change, and we gave them an opportunity to tell their stories directly to Secretary Duncan in support of action that would create immediate and lasting impact.
LGBT-inclusive data collection may seem like a wonky goal. But let me tell you, data drives decision-making, and what is measured is what is valued when it comes to government action. Liam, one of GLSEN’s amazing student leaders, secured a huge advance for LGBT youth nationwide.
That makes me #GLSENProud.
GLSEN’s student leadership development programs support students like Liam Arne in making an amazing difference. We need your help to keep driving progress! Please consider a donation to help us continue to support students like Liam bring hope for a better tomorrow for LGBT youth.
1. Read the Safe Space Kit (6-12) or Ready Set Respect! (K-5) You’ll find step-by-step instructions on how you can support LGBT students, educate about anti-LGBT bias and advocate for changes in your school.
2. Set expectations that cultivate respect for all in your classroom. When addressing such issues as racist, sexist and other forms of bias-based language and attitudes, be sure to include how you will address homophobic and transphobic speech.
3. Display LGBT-inclusive materials. Let students know your classroom is an inclusive space by hanging up the Safe Space sticker or posters or displaying materials for LGBT History Month or Pride Month.
4. Incorporate LGBT-themed materials into curriculum. Create lesson plans that teach about important LGBT figures and events in classes like history and social studies.
5. Teach about the impact of anti-LGBT bias and behavior. Teach about GLSEN’s Think B4 You Speak campaign, and explain why using anti-gay slurs and other derogatory language is hurtful.
6. Support student participation in a GLSEN action. Encourage your students to participate in national actions like Day of Silence or Ally Week.
7. Participate in No Name-Calling Week. Spend January 20-24 teaching your students about celebrating kindness and ending bullying and name-calling.
8. Support Gay-Straight Alliances. Support the efforts of your school’s existing GSA, or work with students to get one started.
9. Join the GLSEN Educator Network. You’ll receive a monthly newsletter that highlights GLSEN’s resources and provides news on GLSEN research, policy initiatives, youth programs and professional development.
10. Change the game with the GLSEN Sports Project. If you’re a coach or PE teacher, use resources that specifically address LGBT issues in athletic and physical education programs.
Have you ever wondered how you can help promote equality in your school? Have you always had the ambition but never the opportunity to speak out for LGBT rights? Now’s your chance! Next month will be GLSEN’s annual Ally Week (October 15-19, 2012)! Registering is simple as taking the ally pledge! That means you are pledging to:
• Not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) language or slurs. • Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where students are being harassed or tell an adult. • Support efforts to end bullying and harassment. • Encourage others to be Allies.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Before we get on with the post, it’s important to note that these are two groups of diverse people who are very unique in many ways! However, in light of the month, (and mainly due to the fact that a lot of the resources available online are for both groups), here is a compilation of resources for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ people! Other masterposts can be found here (and don’t hesitate to add anything if you have resources to contribute)!
Kumu Hina (a documentary about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture/values within modern Hawaiʻi, told through the lens of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, a Native Hawaiian māhū [someone who embodies both a male and female spirit], and an honored and respected kumu [teacher], cultural practitioner, and community leader)
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Before we get on with the post, it’s important to note that these are two groups of diverse people who are very unique in many ways! However, in light of the month, (and mainly due to the fact that a lot of the resources available online are for both groups), here is a compilation of resources for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ people! Other masterposts can be found here (and don’t hesitate to add anything if you have resources to contribute)!
Kumu Hina (a documentary about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture/values within modern Hawaiʻi, told through the lens of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, a Native Hawaiian māhū [someone who embodies both a male and female spirit], and an honored and respected kumu [teacher], cultural practitioner, and community leader)
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