An Education Emergency: Creating Supportive School Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth
AUTHOR: Abram Clear (they/them), School Programs Coordinator
Photo: Messages to incoming high school freshman from a Side by Side supported GSA
Coinciding with a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country, inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation, and political scapegoating have stoked anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment to unprecedented levels. In 2023, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced and a dizzying 75 have been signed into law. Fearing for the safety of LGBTQ+ Americans and travelers, the Human Rights Campaign has declared a state of emergency for the first time in its 40 years of advocacy. As bans attempt to prohibit drag performance, criminalize trans folks’ physical presentation, halt necessary gender-affirming medical care, eliminate the presence of LGBTQ+ characters in library collections, and preclude discussion of LGBTQ+ concepts in the classroom, the mental health of our most vulnerable queer youth suffers.
According to the Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ young people said their mental health was poor most of the time due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation. Two-thirds of youth surveyed said that the possibility of laws banning the discussion of LGBTQ+ people at school made their mental health a lot worse. These findings indicate increased stress for already vulnerable youth. Nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ students missed at least one day of school in the last month due to feeling unsafe. 76.1% of LGBTQ+ youth experienced in-person verbal harassment at school specifically based on sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity in the past year per GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey. With over 60% of LGBTQ+ youth living in a home that is not affirming (per the Trevor Project’s 2023 survey), it is crucial to establish school as a brave, sacred space for LGBTQ+ youth to be their authentic selves.
LGBTQ+ youth deserve a strong, supportive community at school.
Affirming educators and school staff mean the difference between an LGBTQ+ student dreading every school day and eagerly engaging with content and peers. While the impact of one ally educator is immeasurably positive, student-led spaces allowing LGBTQ+ youth to commune are transformative for a school’s entire culture. These spaces are often established by the formation of clubs called Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSA), formerly known as Gay-Straight Alliances, which offer a brave space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students to find community and be their full selves. The presence of a GSA has been shown to increase academic performance of LGBTQ+-identified youth, decrease bullying, improve feelings of safety, mitigate LGBTQ+ absenteeism, and create a more inclusive school culture (see GLSEN’s 2021 survey linked above). Holding a consistent, brave space for LGBTQ+ students to gather, whether a formal GSA or informal lunch group, can be lifesaving. Such meetings may be the only opportunity LGBTQ+ students have to fully express themselves and build community, regardless of their home environment or experiences throughout the rest of the school day.
Side by Side makes Virginia schools more affirming spaces.
Over the past school year, Side by Side has more than doubled the number of in-school LGBTQ+ student clubs we support. We currently connect LGBTQ+ students and allied educators from over 25 schools! Beyond school-wide anti-bullying or self-advocacy assemblies, we lead workshops for GSA students to help them confidently express themselves, understand historical and contemporary political context, dialogue about healthy relationships and expectations, and grow into well-supported, queer adults. Starting a GSA may seem daunting, but we have the experience and resources to help create and sustain an affirming student community at any Virginia school.
Join our network of advocates and utilize our support!
For our trans and non-binary youth, the assurance that school is a safe and affirming place may change on paper – becoming dependent upon individual school districts’ choices to adopt or reject the VDOE’s 2022 model policies upon their eventual release. Regardless of VDOE’s model policies, the creation or continuation of a GSA is protected in public schools under the Federal Equal Access Act. Policies for school employees and administration may vary, but every school is entitled to a supportive LGBTQ+ student community. As always, Side by Side will continue to share evidence-based best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ youth and ensure that LGBTQ+ students have access to a community of peer support – both inside and outside of the classroom. Whether you’re a student, educator, or concerned parent, join our network of advocates and take advantage of our in-school support by emailing our School Programs Coordinator, Abram Clear (they/them), at abram.clear@sidebysideva.org.
