About the Research
Research has shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and those perceived to be LGBTQ face hostile environments in schools. Research focused on improving school climate for LGBTQ youth has determined that the implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive lessons in class promotes greater feelings of student safety, health, and well-being.
In an effort to expand our knowledge of the impact of LGBTQ-inclusive lessons on students and to learn more about the process of securing acceptance of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum in schools, we conducted a multi-method research project to understand:
- young people’s experience with LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum in high school
- barriers to LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum implementation and strategies that support implementation efforts
- impacts of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum on school climate
- lessons learned from previous efforts to implement other types of culturally relevant curriculum such as ethnic studies in California and Arizona.
Related Resources:
- Learning Lesson – Action Guide
- SSR Brief 10: Understanding School Safety and the Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation
- SSR Brief 12: Gender Non-conformity and school safety
- SSR Brief 13: Understanding School Safety for Transgender Students
- SSR Brief 14: Lessons That Matter: LGBTQ Inclusivity and School Safety (2012)