So lets try to remove the 800 pound gorilla from the room and deal with the facts as they relate solely to educating children.
First, this was a big announcement because many people believe that any form of LBGT lifestyle is wrong. These beliefs find root in religious beliefs, historical norms, cultural beliefs, and various other areas that contribute to why we believe what we believe. Secondly, there are also many people for those same reasons believe that a person should be free to live their life in the manner in which they choose. One group's theory is that this will lead to our destruction while another says it is evidence of our liberation. Again, as an educator, my goal is to remove barriers that prevent learning.
What are some of those barriers?
1) More than 8 out of 10 LBGT students reported being harassed at school.
2) 60% felt unsafe at school
3) 30% stayed at home to avoid bullying
4) 20% had been a part of a physical assault at school
5) 30% of all teens who die by their own hands are LBGT (LBGT teens are up to 4 times more kely commit suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.
While I found some variation in the statistics one thing is clear. That the number of LBGT students who are exposed to negative school experiences are on the rise.
As with all school problems we need to address it with a multi-pronged attack.
Parents must realize the importance of having open and honest dialog with their students. Avoidance of the topic at home is not an option. A parents unawareness of the fact can help lend itself to the lose of a child.
Schools must first continue to educate students on bullying in any form. We must also put into place strict policies that address cyber bullying in addition to incidents that occur at school.
Students must become the eyes and ears that assist in identifying bullying incidents and continue to reflect on their actions as well. "I was just playing" is not a license to create an uncomfortable atmosphere for any student.
Educators struggle with what is the best way to specifically address the needs of all minority groups. This subset of students is no different. There is one principle that is universal; every student deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and required to teach all students.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Health
NEA, Safe Schools for Everyone, Gay Lesbian Bi-sexual and Transgender Students
Shore, J, (2010), Gay Teens Suicides, Bullying and Christianity; A Talk With The Trevor Project Director, The Huffington Post
Yudin, Michael (2013), Ensuring Safer schools for LBGT youth, The Official Blog of the US Department of Education