Safety
Out, Safe & Respected Toolkit
If you’ve been a victim of violence or harassed at school, or if you fear for your safety, here are some things you can do to protect yourself.
Talk to someone you can trust. Ask for help.
Have a safety plan. This might mean finding a different way to walk home from school, arranging for a ride home, carrying money to make an emergency phone call, etc.
Keep a written record about the problems you are facing at school. Be sure to include details about what happened, the people who were involved, where and when the incident took place and whether there were any witnesses. (Even a journal entry can be used as a record of the incident.)
Report all harassment and abuse to the school principal. Counselors and teachers can be helpful, too, but they are not always legally required to take action. Reporting to the school principal is the key. If possible, put your reports and complaints in writing and keep a file with copies of all documents you send and receive.
File a complaint. Follow school complaint procedures. Schools that receive federal financial assistance are required by federal law to have complaint procedures.
Report up the ladder. Give the school principal a reasonable amount of time to address your complaint (a few days or a week), but if no action is taken, then take your complaint to the superintendent or school board.
Be ready with solutions. Talk with Lambda Legal or other supportive organizations for resources and ideas. Then share these ideas each time you make a complaint.
Contact organizations that train staff, faculty and students about homophobia, transphobia and violence in schools. These organizations may have information and materials that can help you make a complaint or advocate for training around these issues at your school.
