The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Culture in Our Schools Stacey Baakko EDU 639: Human Relations. & Learning in the Multi. Envmnt. Instructor: David Bearden August 4, 2014

Many who identify as being LGBT are often ostracized by their family, church, or community or all three, because they fall outside the cultural and religious norms.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics advises youth that counseling may be helpful for you if you feel confused about your sexual identity. Avoid any treatments that claim to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation, or treatment ideas that see homosexuality as a sickness”( Just the facts, 2008).

“The idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder or that the emergence of same- sex attraction and orientation among some adolescents is in any way abnormal or mentally unhealthy has no support among any mainstream health and mental health professional organizations” (Just the facts, 2008).

“Studies report that LGBT students have more problems with depression, suicide, and substance abuse when compared to heterosexu al students (Heck, Flentje,& Cochran, 2011). These studies suggest that straight people's reactions toward LGBT's sexual orientation—both at school, in their community, and in the family—cause these results” (Wardle 2013).

86% Verbally Abused 44% Physically Harassed 22% Physically Assaulted (Wardle, 2013).

In Our Schools “39 % of principles reported that their teachers were fair to poor at addressing bullying of sexually minority students”(Wardle, 2013). “92% of reported harassment based on sexual orientation”(Wardle, 2013).

Hearing from LGBT students "I ended up dropping out of school because of homophobia." - Louis Y. (GLSEN-CO, 2000). "They just started calling me 'faggot' this and 'fag' that, and all of a sudden I didn't have any friends anymore...I saw what happened to other kids who got called queer at school. I dropped out." - Tommy (O'Conor, 1995)

"We were picked on. We were called 'queer' and 'faggot' and a host of other homophobic slurs. We were also used as punching bags by our classmates, just for being different." - A college student, remembering high school (GLSEN - CO, 2000b)

Inclusive Curriculum Inclusive curriculums that provide LGBT students with a representation of the LGBT people, history, and events can also promote positive school experiences and also give all teachers and students some insight into the LGBT community.

Inclusion Practices “The California Department of Education has revised the statewide recommended reading list for its 6.3 million K- 12 students, adding roughly 40 titles focused on homosexuality or gender confusion”(Anderson, 2013).

According procon.org, there are 19 states in which same sex marriage is legal and 31 in which it is not.

References Andersen, K. (2013). California dept. of education adds dozens of gay, transgender titles to recommended reading list. LifeSiteNews.com. Retrieved from education-adds-dozens-of-gay-transgender-titles-to-recoCalifornia dept. of education adds dozens of gay, transgender titles to recommended reading list. education-adds-dozens-of-gay-transgender-titles-to-reco Crary, D. (2014, July 29). Activists urge Obama to include LGBT rights on Africa summit agenda. LGBTQ Nation RSS. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from lgbt-rights-on-africa-summit-agenda/ lgbt-rights-on-africa-summit-agenda/ GOP lawmakers introduce ‘license to discriminate’ bill for adoption agencies. (2014, August 3). LGBTQ Nation RSS. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from to-discriminate-bill-for-adoption-agencieshttp:// to-discriminate-bill-for-adoption-agencies Federal judge dismisses latest challenge to N.J. ban on gay conversion therapy. (2014, July 31). LGBTQ Nation RSS. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from conversion-therapy-is-dismissed/ conversion-therapy-is-dismissed/ Just the Facts Coalition. (2008). Just the facts about sexual orientation and youth: A primer for principals, educators, and school personnel. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Retreived from Maclemore, Lewis, R. (Artist). (2012). Same Love : Ohio’s same-sex marriage debate goes beyond courtroom. (2014, August 2). LGBTQ Nation RSS. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from courtroom/ courtroom/ Smith, R. L. (n.d.). Diversity in public high schools: A look at the experiences of gay and lesbian students. Retrieved from Vietnam’s LGBT community celebrates pride, softening attitudes toward gays. (2014, August 3). LGBTQ Nation RSS. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from celebrates-pride-softening-attitudes-toward-gays/ celebrates-pride-softening-attitudes-toward-gays/ Wardle, F. (2013).Human Relationships and Learning in the Multicultural Environment. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.* Human Relationships and Learning in the Multicultural Environment