School is an essential part of children's lives that they spend most of their time during the day. Teachers and administrators have a significant impact on the emotional well-being of students because it affects how they view themselves and others around them. It also affects how they feel about different aspects of life, including romantic relationships, friendships, peer pressure, and family relations. School can be either a safe haven for LGBT students or a place where bullying and discrimination occur daily. This paper will explore how school policies, teaching practices, and social climate interact to create environments conducive or hostile to LGBT inclusion.
The National Center for Transgender Equality conducted a survey of more than 28,0000 transgender adults between 2015 and 2016, which indicated that almost half had been verbally harassed at school due to their gender identity. Many of these individuals suffered from depression, anxiety, and attempted suicide. The report recommended that schools should adopt policies to protect LGBT students from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Some institutions are still unwilling to make changes in their policies, even though such measures would help prevent bullying, isolation, and other forms of abuse among this group. Thus, there is a need to examine how school policies, teaching practices, and social climate interact to create an environment conducive to LGBT inclusion.
School policies play a critical role in creating a safe space for LGBT students.
Many states have enacted laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), 19 states and Washington DC currently include sexual orientation and gender identity in their anti-discrimination laws. These laws require employers to hire and fire employees based on their qualifications rather than their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Not all states have similar laws, and many schools do not have explicit policies to protect LGBT students. School policies can also be effective in addressing problems affecting LGBT students by setting clear guidelines regarding dress codes, bathrooms, and activities.
In addition to having explicit policies, teachers must also implement them through teaching practices that promote inclusivity. Teachers should discuss gender roles, sexism, and homophobia openly in class. They should acknowledge that different genders identify as they please and that it is okay to express oneself differently. The teacher's behavior towards LGBT students will impact whether others accept them or reject them. The GLSEN's National School Climate Survey Report indicates that many teachers are comfortable with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students but uncomfortable with transgender students. Thus, teachers need to be educated about transgender issues so that they know how to respond when students transition or share information.
The social climate of a school environment affects student experiences indirectly because other students tend to model their behaviors after those around them. If there are few openly LGBT students in the institution, others may be less likely to accept them. On the other hand, if there are several openly LGBT individuals, non-LGBT peers may feel more comfortable discussing the topic and learning more about LGBT people.
A supportive social climate encourages administrators and teachers to enact policies, which protect LGBT students and provide an accepting environment for all.
If the culture does not embrace this group, implementing policies can be difficult.
School policies, teaching practices, and social climate interact to create environments conducive or hostile to LGBT inclusion. In order to foster an inclusive environment, schools must have explicit policies that recognize gender identity and sexual orientation. Teachers must also implement these rules by addressing gender roles and sexism in class. Moreover, the social climate should be one where students feel comfortable discussing different genders without fear of bullying or discrimination. By creating such an atmosphere, schools will help promote self-acceptance among LGBT youth and improve overall mental health outcomes.
How do school policies, teaching practices, and social climate interact to create environments conducive or hostile to LGBT inclusion?
School policies, teaching practices, and social climates are interconnected elements that can influence how inclusive they are for LGBT students. Policies such as anti-bullying laws, gender-neutral bathrooms, and mandatory sexuality education classes may foster an environment of acceptance and respect. On the other hand, censorship of LGBT topics or punishment for expressing one's identity could promote a hostile climate.