By Ainsley Lawrence
With a nation so divided over how people should be allowed to identify, it’s more urgent now than ever for schools to take action to protect LGBTQ+ youth. The majority, 62 percent, of elementary school teachers report that they don’t think gender identity should be taught in their schools. Queer issues in the classroom aren’t broached very often across the board, with just 29 percent of teachers reporting discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation.
For LGBTQ+ students, this can feel oppressive and marginalizing. What’s more, it can cause a gap in queer education that leads to unsafe environments.
The Current State of Queer Support in the American South
Take the 2024 protests against anti-LGBTQ+ bullying in Oklahoma for example. In the wake of Nex Benedict’s death, students are outraged by the level of harassment and physical violence allowed to take place on school grounds. Nex was a non-binary student and experienced a brutal attack the day before their death. Regardless of the cause of death, the nature of the attack has brought to light a massive issue with how members of the LGBTQ+ community are treated and represented in schools in southern America.
The politically charged feelings behind statewide school regulations should be put to the wayside when dealing with the safety of all students. Violence and bullying are unacceptable, regardless of personal beliefs. In any case, students should not feel unsafe going to school every day, trying to get an education. The state of the world right now is stressful enough without students having to balance schoolwork and ward off bullies just for expressing their identity.
Integrating Policies and Training for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools
Since public schools are federally funded, they are legally prohibited from discriminating “on the basis of race, color and national origin, sex, disability, and . . . age.” Even private schools have separate laws that apply to discrimination within activities and programs. However, the efficacy of these anti-discrimination laws is up for debate.
In 2018, over two-thirds of U.S. teachers reported being witnesses to a hate crime or incident incited by biases on school grounds. Developing inclusive youth environments requires an adjustment to the evolving definitions of gender and sexual orientation. Comprehensive LGBTQ+ sensitivity and security training for school staff should be mandatory given the prevalence and severity of these issues. Staff should be trained on how to:
- Address unconscious—and conscious—biases in themselves and others
- Have and promote empathy and understanding
- Identify exclusionary practices and behaviors
- Intervene accordingly
School staff training to support LGBTQ+ youth is available from several resources like the American Psychological Association and The Trevor Project—but the implementation needs to be more widespread to see positive results.
Creating Inclusive and Supportive Spaces
Although training is a great first step to safer spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, it’s not enough to have one or two courses for staff and call it a day. Schools in the predominantly red states of the South need to continue to nurture these behaviors and actions, integrating them into daily operations as seamlessly as possible. It needs to be ingrained in staff and students, alike, that political and religious beliefs have no place in disrupting the classroom and putting others in harm’s way.
To foster a culture of acceptance and understanding, it’s important to include everyone. Students and faculty must feel that their voices are heard to successfully integrate new patterns of thinking and behaving. Have open discussions and encourage respectful feedback, even if this has to be private and anonymously sent to school officials. Regardless of majority opinion, the safety of LGBTQ+ students is still paramount.
Schools should consider offering queer support groups and resources. Further, staff should be trained on strategies for addressing grief and promoting resilience in students, especially surrounding LGBTQ+ violence or harassment. Building up queer youth instead of knocking them down can provide them with comfortable, safe spaces in schools that they may not be getting elsewhere. Providing queer-friendly therapists can help them feel seen and offer personalized help from someone who has a first-hand grasp on some of the issues and feelings they may be facing day to day.
Providing Bystander Intervention Support
While the emphasis is on affirming and embracing LGBTQ+ students, it’s also key to empower students and staff to intervene in bullying situations. Regardless of their affiliation with any community, they should understand that violence and harassment are wrong and dangerous. Often, the bystander effect can take hold, and nothing is ultimately done to prevent or mitigate damage in bias-charged incidents. Instead, everyone in the school should know that it’s their responsibility to do something or get help—and that they will be supported if they do so.
Mental health resources or training courses integrated into the classroom can give students the tools they need to empower them to step in. It’s likely not the case that they don’t want to help. Instead, they aren’t equipped with the right techniques and knowledge to make them feel comfortable intervening. Something as simple as asking the bully how they’re feeling and having them take a breath can prevent bullying situations from escalating.
Physical safety first aid techniques are also crucial, especially when teaching faculty and students to respond quickly to incidents. First aid education can teach them how to dress wounds, stop bleeding, and call 911. This can be taught to students at every age and can act as a powerful catalyst to mitigate the negative effects of emergencies.
The Role of Education in Promoting Understanding
The power of queer education cannot be overstated. Incorporating LGBTQ+ history and contributions into the curriculum can be inclusive and powerful for queer youth while educating others on diverse views. School officials and educators should consider bringing in guest speakers and hosting workshops to educate students on the different types of people and situations they will encounter. This is not only helpful to destigmatize LGBTQ+ issues at school, but it also prepares students beyond the classroom. There are long-term benefits of an educated and empathetic student body that will have a ripple effect on others, both inside and outside of the education system.
Overcoming Challenges and Resistance
Many LGBTQ+ issues are swept under the rug due to objections and concerns. The real and perceived hierarchies that exist in schools affect queer policy implementation. This will continue to happen if action isn’t taken. Instead, educators and parents should adopt an open and honest discussion policy. When implementing adjusted policies regarding discrimination against queer youth, staff should be prepared to navigate resistance from parents and community members.
When providing explanations for anti-LGBTQ+ bullying policies and queer education, remind parents, students, and community members that the safety of schools is the first priority. Common rebuttals can include parents feeling like their children are being indoctrinated into a certain way of thinking. Navigating this with grace and explaining that this is simply a part of creating an inclusive environment can alleviate these concerns. Make sure these voices are heard, and instill that educators will continue to conduct classrooms with unbiased curriculums and integrity.
In addition to needing safety nets within the school system to protect them from bullying and harassment, some LGBTQ+ students may also face unsafe situations in their home life. Teachers are often trained to intervene if they suspect a child is being abused or is being raised in a home environment that is not safe, but it is important to be extra vigilant and trust one’s intuition when working with LGBTQ+ youth. Techniques to do so include learning to spot patterns and pay attention to their physical reactions in certain situations, such as if they have an increased heart rate, butterflies in the stomach, or a sinking feeling if they see a student who they believe is in danger in some way. Educators and other mandated reporters should be encouraged to use their intuition and tune into their environment, as it can help them quickly react to situations where a student may be in danger.
Ensure naysayers that inclusivity means that everyone feels supported at school, and it does not take anything away from one group or the other. Schools must leverage willpower and strong voices to combat backlash. Otherwise, as has been the case for years, LGBTQ+ youth will remain unsupported and unprotected at school.
Moving Forward with a Proactive Mindset
Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in southern schools is of utmost importance. The narratives around pronouns and sexual orientation are emotionally charged and can lead to unnecessary violence and harassment. Providing an inclusive and supportive space for queer youth can make a huge difference in their mental well-being and physical safety.
There is so much potential for positive impacts on the overall school environment and student well-being. It’s not purely about integrating LGBTQ+ education and support into public and private schools. It’s about fostering classrooms and school-led programs that empower students to flourish and become well-informed, compassionate members of society.
