On Oct. 28, the Family Policy Institute of Washington released a video, in which a few Battle Ground parents discussed protesting the district’s adoption of the “Family Life and Sexual Health” (FLASH) curriculum. Besides containing incorrect information about the district’s proposed adoption, the video unfairly targeted transgender children and lesbian, gay, and bisexual young people.
As a professor who teaches school leaders about working with diverse families and students, it is important to provide some facts that all educators and parents should be aware of about our inclusion of LGBT students. While the people in the video talked about feeling attacked, and one even described the FLASH curriculum as “an attack upon children,” the truth is: most LGBT students are the ones attacked and victimized in our schools and communities.
According to the most recent national survey of LGBT youth in the U.S. by GLSEN, 87 percent of LGBT students experienced harassment or assault in school. While most experienced verbal harassment, nearly a third of LGBT youth were physically harassed (e.g. pushed, shoved) and 12 percent were assaulted (e.g. punched, kicked, attacked with a weapon).
Also, most LGBT students (62 percent) experienced discriminatory policies or practices at their schools. This means that school staff perpetuated discrimination against them, like not allowing them to start a Gay-Straight Alliance or ensuring there were district policies protecting them. It is no wonder that most LGBT students (55 percent) did not report incidents of bullying or harassment to school staff. In fact, when students actually did report, 60 percent said staff did nothing.
In Washington, we have policies prohibiting LGBT discrimination and harassment, as well as mandates for districts to have adopted inclusion policies (most should have done this by 2011). Despite these protections, there are many schools and districts where LGBT students and families do not feel safe or welcomed.
Educators and parents in local schools should ask themselves: Do all children and young adults in our schools feel safe? Do they have at least one trusted adult they can turn to? We know from research that higher percentages of LGBT youth experience depression and suicidal thoughts. Higher percentages feel unsafe at home or get kicked out of their house because their parents reject them.
Educators have a sacred duty to protect children and young people. I ask local teachers, school staff, and administrators, not just in Battle Ground but across the region: Will you let what is uncomfortable to talk about (or politically difficult when parents push back) prevent us from doing what is morally right for children?
It is time to center the voices and experiences of students in this discussion and protect and stand up for LGBT children and teenagers in our schools and communities.
