U.S. Department of Education to Collect New Data on Anti-LGBT Bias, GSAs
A major survey from the U.S. Department of Education will ask new questions about anti-LGBT bias in schools and about gay-straight alliance clubs (GSAs).
Schools/Education
Back-to-School Reflections of a Lesbian Mom
Back-to-school time always raises mixed feelings in me. On the one hand, years of being in academia make me see September, not January, as the start of the year (or maybe it’s just a Jewish thing). On the other, the lazy days of summer are giving way to school time’s hectic rush, with my son’s after-school activities, homework reminders, and the various other events and paperwork that public education brings in its wake.
Back-to-School Resources for LGBTQ Parents
I first started posting back-to-school resources for LGBTQ parents in 2006, before my own son was even in school. He’s grown and changed, and so has this list. I hope it remains useful, whether your children are just entering school, starting a new school, or encountering new issues in their educational journeys.
How Schools Stigmatize Adopted Children of Same- and Different-Sex Parents
A new study has shown that many adopted children, with both same- and different-sex parents, experience stigmatization in preschool.
Voices Out of the Silence
Today is the Day of Silence, when many students from middle school to college choose not to speak, in order to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment. LGBTQ youth and those with LGBTQ parents still face challenges—but there are slow changes for the better.
Does Your State Ban Talk of LGBTQ Issues in Classrooms?
I wrote yesterday about anti-LGBT discrimination in schools — and was happy to learn later about a new campaign to address “no promo homo” laws that forbid discussion of LGBT issues in classrooms.
Anti-LGBT Discrimination in Education, from Preschool On
A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) highlights anti-LGBT discrimination in education, from preschool through college.
For LGBT Students, School Is Often Still Hostile, but Getting Better
LGBT students in the United States report high levels of victimization and discrimination, although things are slowly getting better, according to a new report.
12-Year-Old with Two Moms Makes Film About Bullying
Gerry Orz is a 12-year-old living with his two moms and older brother. He’s just made a short film about a boy with two moms who is bullied by a classmate — a reflection of his own experience. This is the second such film he’s made — the first was when he was only nine! Watch a trailer and learn more about his ongoing activism.
Spirit Day: Can a Color Stop a Bully?
Today is Spirit Day, a time to take a stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth. Not all LGBTQ youth are bullied, of course, and not all victims of bullies are LGBTQ — but anti-LGBTQ harassment is still pervasive, even if things are slowly getting better.