
By Andrew Kelly |
For over 31 years I have been blessed to serve public school children in Washington, Oregon, and Nevada.
My goal has always been to creatae schools where all children can learn and thrive. Unfortunantly, the LGBTQ+ students I’ve served are frequently discriminated against and harassed. Many times this is the result of kids not understanding anyone who is “different than them”. Adults in the school system hold the responsibility to keep their kids safe... ALL the kids. Adults in the school system also have the responsibility to build inclusive ways to welcome all family configurations to the classroom environment.
Schools are supposed to be safe havens for all children, but unfortunately, this is not always the case for LGBTQ+ kids. These kids are at a higher risk of being bullied, discriminated against, and physically assaulted. According to a report by GLSEN, over 85% of LGBTQ+ students experience harassment or discrimination in the schools they attend. As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to create a safe and welcoming environment for these children and families. On the following page are some commonsense tips to be nurtured in all schools to ensure our kids can thrive and that all families are celebrated within the school house.
Keeping LGBTQ+ kids safe in schools requires creating a safe and welcoming environment, educating teachers and staff, creating support networks, implementing anti-bullying policies, respecting students’ privacy, and validating all family configurations. It’s my belief that high quality public schools are one of the most pre-eminent civil rights of our lifetimes. Failure to educate ALL our kids well will create a less optimal nation in the future. The suggestions in this article should actively exist in all schools and parents should feel empowered to ask, question and make recommendations to ensure that every school is a school where ALL students and families feel safe and welcome.
Of the eight school districts I’ve had the honor of serving, North Beach School District was the most recent. I’m particularly thankful for our ability, as a district, to grow our counseling support for kids. When I started in North Beach we had less than a .5 counselor in the entire district. Today there are three full time counselors in North Beach; Lisa Sem-Rodriguez at PBES, Cassie Conrad at OSES, and Jennifer Simmons at North Beach MS/HS. These three amazing educators, in coordination with their building administrators and countless other teachers and para educators have opened the dialogue about openness and acceptance of all kids. I will forever be thankful for educators who work diligently to ensure that “ALL” really means “ALL.” North Beach embraces kids and families from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community. As we move forward to improve, grow, and expand opportunities and acceptance for all kids, community involvement and advocacy will remain key.
Common Sense Tips:
- Create a Safe and Welcoming Environment: It is essential to create an environment that is accepting and welcoming of all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This can be achieved by using inclusive language, displaying LGBTQ+ friendly posters and literature, and including LGBTQ+ history and contributions in school curriculum. It is also important to provide gender-neutral restrooms and changing rooms.
- Educate Teachers and Staff: Educating teachers and staff is crucial to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students. They should be trained to recognize and respond appropriately to instances of bullying, harassment, or discrimination. Teachers and staff should also be trained to use inclusive language and avoid assumptions about students’ gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Create Support Networks: Creating support networks for LGBTQ+ students are critical to their well-being. These networks can be in the form of support groups, peer mentoring programs, or LGBTQ+ student organizations. These groups provide a safe space for students to discuss their experiences, share their feelings and receive support from others who understand their struggles.
- Implement Anti-Bullying Policies: Implementing and enforcing anti-bullying policies is crucial to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all students, especially our LGBTQ+ kids. The policies should clearly define what constitutes bullying, how it will be reported, and the consequences to instances of bullying.
- Respect Students’ Privacy: Respecting students’ privacy is essential to their well-being. Students should be allowed to choose whether to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their privacy should be always paramount. Teachers and staff should also avoid disclosing students’ sexual orientation or gender identity without their consent.
- Validate ALL Family Configurations: Schools must actively work to create safe places for all family configurations in schools, especially those who do NOT mirror the “Leave it to Beaver” model.

Resources:
GLSEN is an education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools.
For more info visit:
National Headquarters
https://www.glsen.org
Washington Chapter:
https://www.glsenwashington.org
Advocates for Youth works with youth leaders to ensure that all young people’s rights are respected, including LGBTQ youth.
For more info visit :
https://www.advocatesforyouth.org
Live Out Loud cultivates safe, inclusive, and affirming educational environments for LGBTQ+ youth by connecting them to positive role models, recources, and opportunities in the LGBTQ+ community.
For more info visit:
https://www.liveoutloud.org