Other Resources — Materials
Out, Safe & Respected Tool Kit
Understanding the Need for Safer Schools
GLSEN 2003 National School Climate Survey. The results of a nationwide survey of LGBT students confirm that for many of our nation’s LGBT students, school can be an unsafe or even dangerous place. School is where homophobic remarks, sometimes made by faculty or staff, are heard frequently. The majority of the youth reported being verbally harassed, and a large number reported sexual harassment, physical harassment or physical assault. The findings of this survey demonstrate that transgender students feel particularly vulnerable at school.
Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth: Breaking the Silence in Schools and Families. Commissioned by Governor Weld (R-MA), the 1993 groundbreaking report reviews the need for safe schools, risk factors for sexual minority youth and recommendations for schools, families and legislative bodies. Single copies are free. The Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth: 617-725-4000 x35312.
They Don’t Even Know Me — Understanding Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in Schools: A Report on the Five-Year Anti-Violence Research Project of the Safe Schools Coalition of Washington State. The report reviews a five-year study by the Safe Schools Coalition which involved collecting and examining data on incidents of anti-gay harassment and violence in schools. It includes policy recommendations and resource listings.
Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools. Based on in-depth interviews with 140 youth and 130 teachers, administrators, counselors, parents and youth service providers in seven states, this Human Rights Watch report offers the first comprehensive look at the human rights abuses suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students at the hands of their peers.
Changing School Policies
A Guide to Effective Statewide Laws/Policies: Preventing Discrimination Against LGBT Students in K-12 Schools. First, Lambda Legal presents the key legal considerations that should inform advocates’ decisions about what actions to take at the state level. Then GLSEN fills in the legal framework with the important political considerations for advocates.
Stopping the Anti-Gay Abuse of Students in Public Schools: A Legal Perspective. A Lambda Legal primer for students, parents and attorneys who are ready to take action against antigay abuse in our nation’s schools. Includes a checklist of the proper steps to take if you feel you’ve been harassed at school.
Changing School Climate
Making Schools Safe. An ACLU training program designed for organizations interested in promoting school safety to help them work with educators to combat antigay harassment in local schools.
Establishing an Allies Program. The Human Rights Campaign’s guidance on engaging allies to help create a safer school environment.
Making Schools Safe for Students: Creating a Proactive School Safety Plan. Corwin Press, May, 1999 revised July, 2000. Available through www.safeschools.org.
Bullying Prevention Program. A University of Colorado resource page including definitions, myths, bullying prevention tips (for students, parents and schools), model legislation, fact sheets and links.
Transgender Equality. Defines and describes transgender terms and issues; discusses the ways sexual orientation and gender identity overlap and differ; examines the role of gender variance in homophobia and antigay violence; provides information on efforts to achieve basic legal protections for transgender people; and suggests strategies for advancing inclusive anti-discrimination, safe schools and hate-crimes legislation.
Resources Tailored to Youth
Adding Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity to Discrimination & Harassment Policies in School: Questions & Answers. A joint ACLU and GLSEN publication with specific tips and guidance.
GLSEN Students’ Center. Includes tips on starting gay-straight alliances, a national listing of existing GSAs, a library of material, news items and other resources.
A Student’s Guide To Surviving Anti-Gay Harassment and Physical or Sexual Assault. A guide from The Safe Schools Coalition.
Day of Silence Project. An international event in which a growing number of schools participate. The Day of Silence is designed to raise awareness and protest the silence faced by LGBT people and offer tools people can use to end discrimination and harassment in schools.
Ideas for LGBT History Month. This GLSEN listing includes 15 actions students and teachers can take to promote LGBT History Month, as well as books, films and web resources with information on LGBT history.
SIGNS School Survival Guide. A New York LGBT Community Center resource center for youth to create a safer school environment, start a gay-straight alliance and get information from other students.
Resources Tailored to Parents and Communities
Our House to the School House: A Recipe for Safe Schools. An online kit from Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays with information and resources for helping to make schools safer.
The GLSEN Workbook. A tool for measuring, describing and improving an individual school’s climate with regard to LGBT issues. The workbook also includes detailed descriptive information and organizing tools that guide people through the process of creating concrete changes in the lives of students.
Local School Climate Survey (School-Based Version). A GLSEN survey that can be used to assess the climate for LGBT students within a particular school.
A Family’s Guide To Handling Anti-Gay Harassment. A guide from The Safe Schools Coalition, which is also available in Spanish.
Resources Tailored to Teachers and Administrators
GLSEN Resource Center. Provides several important guides to help create a safer school climate, including a checklist for educators and coaches, as well as testimonials and training curricula.
Ending Anti-Gay Bias in Schools: A Training of Trainers Manual. GLSEN manual that provides educators and activists with a resource for preparing new facilitators to conduct antibias workshops in their local communities.
Bully Proof: A Teacher’s Guide on Teasing and Bullying for Use with Fourth and Fifth Grade Students. A curriculum developed by the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and the National Education Association designed to help teachers address the issue of bullying and name-calling. National Education Association, 202-822-7732.
Tackling Gay Issues in Schools: A Resource Module. Planned Parenthood of Connecticut and GLSEN of Connecticut’s comprehensive resource module includes a rationale for the inclusion of LGBT issues in school, recommended curriculum and staff development activities, resource lists and more. Tackling Gay Issues is now available in Spanish (Abordondo La Tematica; translated by Nila Marrone) with a special appendix.
Bruised Inside, What Our Children Say about Youth Violence, What Causes It, and What We Should Do About It. A report from the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
