Kate Stoltzfus and Shane Chowen examine the situation of modern LGBT students in schools. While the condition of LGBT students has improved significantly over the last four years, Stoltzfus finds that students still face abundant hardships in schools with little hope for effective legislation from the government under the Trump administration. Government protection of LGBT rights varies between states; twenty states have anti-discrimination laws in employment while eight states have banned LGBT topics from classrooms entirely. Through bullying, discrimination, lack of education on LGBT subjects, and restrictions on LGBT groups and clubs, schools can frequently turn into toxic environments for LGBT students. The common outcome caused by mistreatment is increased stress and higher dropout rates for LGBT students (Chowen, 2016).
“One in ten students see negative behavior towards other students based on their sexual orientation on a daily basis. The report also found more than half of lesbian/ gay learners reporting having experienced homophobic or transphobic name-calling in their educational setting. Non-binary learners were particularly vulnerable as they were more likely than any other group to have experienced name-calling, bullying and/or harassment on this basis.” (Chowen, 2016)
Not just a few isolated cases, bullying and discrimination proves to still be widespread across the US.
The ability for teachers to identify and intervene in cases of bullying and discrimination is highly important in keeping a neutral to positive environment for LGBT students in the classroom. Depending on the state and community, the ability for teachers to discuss LGBT matters is somewhat constrained; teachers report wanting to include more LGBT material but are concerned of the consequences. Teachers seen as too LGBT friendly or who try to incorporate too much LGBT topics into their classes can face discrimination from other faculty and from their students for ‘pushing an agenda’ (Stoltzfus, 2016). The real problem for teachers however is a lack of LGBT related training: “training around sexual orientation or gender identity… was relatively low. Just over half of those sampled (some 52 per cent) said that no training of either kind was provided” (Chowen, 2016). While many teachers recognize the existence and problems of LGBT discrimination and bullying brings to a classroom, few have significant enough training to know how to act. Furthermore, the existing programs and rules regarding LGBT students are frequently seen as ineffective by teachers. In order to support LGBT friendly spaces in schools, “further work needs to be done to develop policies and improve training to ensure staff have the understanding and skills to identify, challenge and report inappropriate behavior” (Chowen, 2016). Once teachers are comfortable with LGBT topics and know how to avoid being homophobic and transphobic themselves, they can begin to detect and prevent bullying within their classrooms.
(Stoltzfus, 2016)
Stoltzfus: Many Teachers Can’t Talk About LGBT Issues in the Classroom, Report Finds