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Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Schools

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Handbook of Culturally Responsive School Mental Health

Abstract

In 2010, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) published the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in our nation’s schools. This survey used two methods of accessing this information: the surveys of randomly selected community organizations working with LGBT youth and surveys conducted through Internet sites. The sample consisted of 7,261 students between the ages of 13 and 21. The young people surveyed represented 50 states and the District of Columbia and 2,783 unique school districts. Seventy-four percent were White, 57.1 % were female, and 61 % of those surveyed were identified as gay or lesbian. The largest numbers of students were in grades 11–12.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Red Health Center, Georgetown, DE, USA

    Nancy Bearss

Authors
  1. Nancy Bearss
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy Bearss .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, Dept. Educational Psychology, Rutgers University, Seminary Place 10, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers

  2. , Department of Psychology, Virginia State University, Hayden Drive 1, Petersburg, 23806, USA

    Zewelanji N. Serpell

  3. , Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Pendleton Street 1512, Columbia, 29208, South Carolina, USA

    Mark D. Weist

Resources

Resources

Resources for Developing Cultural Competence in Schools for LGBT Youth

  1. 1.

    Advocates For Youth (www.advocateforyouth.org): This organization has multiple fact sheets and information about implementing services for LGBT youth in schools. The material has been peer reviewed by experts in the field of adolescent health and young people.

  2. 2.

    Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (www.glsen.org): GLSEN has provided essential research on discrimination among LGBT in school settings.

  3. 3.

    Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org): The HRC has up-to-date research and develops advocacy to promote human rights for LGBT individuals. The HRC website http://www.welcomingschools.org/ is a valuable resource in developing programs in schools to promote equality for LGBT youth.

Resources for Support of Successful Interventions in Schools

  1. 1.

    The Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (www.pflag.org): PGLAG is a valuable resource to engage parents in schools.

  2. 2.

    The Safe Schools Coalition (www.safeschoolscoalition.org) and The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment (www.teachsafeschools.org): Both of these organizations have materials to promote curriculum in schools for the implementation of anti-bullying programs.

  3. 3.

    The Gay Straight Alliance Network (www.gsanetwork.org): An essential resource for developing Gay and Straight Alliances in schools.

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Bearss, N. (2013). Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Schools. In: Clauss-Ehlers, C., Serpell, Z., Weist, M. (eds) Handbook of Culturally Responsive School Mental Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4948-5_7

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