As we all know, there is still much prejudice against individuals who identify themselves as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Peer groups play an important role in shaping one's identity as a teenager, including how they will interact with others later in life. This means that it is very important for schools to ensure that these communities have access to resources like supportive peers, safe spaces, counseling services, and healthcare providers so that their needs can be met while they are navigating their adolescence. It is also essential that students are taught about different forms of sexual orientation at an early age so that they can understand what being LGBT means before entering middle school or high school. Schools should provide education around this issue through assemblies, workshops, guest speakers, or other activities designed specifically for this purpose. By doing so, students will become more aware of issues faced by their peers who identify as something other than straight or cisgendered, which will make them feel accepted even if they don't share similar experiences.
Teachers need to be trained in handling sensitive topics involving gender expression, sex roles, and relationships between people from various backgrounds so that they can create inclusive classrooms where everyone feels welcome regardless of who they are attracted to romantically or physically. Teachers must be aware that not all students may have experienced same-sex attraction yet but that does not mean that they do not deserve equal treatment when learning about the topic.
Peer pressure has been shown to influence many aspects of a student's life such as academic achievement, substance abuse, mental health issues, etc., and educators should help prevent negative outcomes associated with pressuring young adults into conformity by providing them with information on how to resist social norms related to dating behaviors, appearance, hairstyles, clothing choices, etc.
How do peer cultures mediate acceptance or rejection of LGBT students?
Peer culture is essential to a student's socialization process as it influences their perception of self and others. The concept of peer culture includes all forms of communication between peers. This communication can be verbal, nonverbal, written, visual, etc. In regards to LGBTQ+ students, peer culture serves as an important mechanism that either accepts or rejects them based on how they present themselves within the group.