By Karen Ocamb
October 7, 2015 :: 9:13 AM
October is national bullying prevention month. Last weekend, five years after his suicide, the parents of teen Tyler Clementi and New York Law School Professor Ari Ezra Waldman launched a new Internet Safety program and this coming Saturday, Oct. 10, the L.A. Gay Men’s Chorus is performing their “It Gets Better” show at The Wallis. But the L.A. LGBT Center is taking a more granular, on-the-ground approach, announcing on Wednesday that they are expanding their important anti-bullying OUT for Safe Schools program— coordinated with L.A. Unified School District—into nine other school districts nationwide.
Two years ago the Center and LAUSD created a pilot program to help make schools safer for LGBT and questioning students. The idea was simple: create a visible rainbow badge that would proudly identify that person as an LGBTQ ally or protector. More than 30,000 of the LAUSD’s 59,823 employees have been wearing those badges since then.
“It was incredibly comforting to see so many teachers and other staff wearing the badges, because I never expected to feel welcomed—especially in an inner-city high school like mine,” said Noah Jenkins, 18, who identifies as genderqueer and graduated from a South L.A. school that participated in the program. “In classes where I had to write papers and essays, having teachers who wore the badges made me feel like I could be more open about myself, knowing that someone had my back. School is already so stressful; it’s such a huge comfort to not have to worry that my safety was at-risk because of who I am.”
Determining that if the program could work in the nation’s second largest school district, it might work in others, the Center teamed up with the Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) to launch the OUT for Safe Schools initiative in New York, Chicago, (the other two of the nation’s largest districts) Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Duval County (Florida), San Francisco and Washington, D.C.—potentially reaching more than 2.5 million students grades K–12.
That means 50,000 teachers and staff in those nine school districts will be wearing those badges, in addition to the 30,000 already in LAUSD. And, it should be noted, it’s still legal to fire LGBT teachers in Florida’s Duval County Public School system.
“Despite increased public acceptance of LGBT people in general, many school campuses remain toxic environments for LGBTQ students, contributing to higher rates of suicide, depression, homelessness and HIV infection,” said Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “We approached the LAUSD about developing this program to create visible adult allies throughout the entire school system, helping LGBTQ youth feel safe and supported while helping to deter would-be bullies. Now, wherever students look, they’re sure to see adults who proudly identify themselves as LGBTQ allies for students.”
A 2014 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) found that:
- 65% of LGBT students heard homophobic remarks frequently or often
- 56% of LGBT students reported personally experiencing LGBT-related discriminatory policies or practices at school
- 33% of LGBT students were physically harassed (e.g., pushed or shoved) in the past year because of their sexual orientation
The Center also noted that the GLSEN study also underscores the significance of having visible adult allies on school campuses:
LGBT students with 11 or more supportive staff at their school were much less likely to feel unsafe than students with no supportive staff (36% vs. 74%) and had higher GPAs (3.3 vs. 2.8). Unfortunately, only 39% of those surveyed could identify 11 or more supportive staff at their school. Soon after the Center and LAUSD launched the Out for Safe Schools program, the Center began fielding requests from school districts throughout the country that were interested in the initiative—including some in states in which teachers could be fired for being “out.”
The badges will be distributed on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, to “come out” as supportive LGBTQ allies. Additionally, those who participate will receiving training by GSA Network staff.
Geoffrey Winder, Co-Executive Director of GSA Network, said:
“We’ve seen over and again how vitally important it is for trans and queer youth, particularly low-income trans and queer youth of color, to have supportive adults engaged with them, helping to create safe and supportive learning environments. Safe school climates and supportive adults are key to keeping LGBTQ youth in schools and out of the juvenile justice system. Trans and queer youth who feel valued, important, and supported by out teachers, administrators, and staff are more likely to feel personally connected to school, invested in their own education and, ultimately, to reach out for help if they may need it.”