What Can I Say to Make an Impact with my Principal or Administrator?

Advocating for changes in your school will undoubtedly lead to a conversation with your principal or administrator.  Administrators are notoriously busy people - you'll likely only have a few minutes to get your point across and make and impression.  You want to make sure you give your administrator information that will motivate them to take action and support your efforts as an ally.  Here are some tips for making the most out of those few minutes.

BE DIRECT

Let them know exactly what you're there for.  "I'm here today to talk to you about the need to make our school a safe space for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression."  Let them know that you are an ally to LGBT students, and there are some changes that can be made in the school to help LGBT students feel included and safe.

SHOW THEM WHY THE CHANGE IS NECESSARY

"I think there is a need for a comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policy (or a training for all staff, a change in the Internet filter software, etc.) in the school because..."  Use statistics from GLSEN's National School Climate Survey or results from your Local School Climate Survey to inform your principal or administrator about the prevalence of anti-LGBT behavior in schools and its effects on LGBT students.  If possible, use statistics from a GLSEN Resesarch Brief for your specific state (see http://www.glsen.org/research) or the Local School Climate Survey you have conducted in your school.  Give them brief descriptions of the anti-LGBT behavior you have personally witnessed in the school.

PUT THE FOCUS ON SAFETY

All school administrators have a responsibility to make sure their schools are safe, both physically and emotionally, for the students who attend them.  "as you can see from these statistics (or incidents, stories, etc.) the climate in the school is having an effect on the comfort, safety, and sense of belonging amongst many of the students."  Point out to them the negative effects that anti-LGBT behavior has not only on LGBT students, but all students.

SHOW THEM HOW THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CHANGE

"These actions will help make our school a safer and friendlier place for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression."  Provide information on how this change can result in a more positive school climate and imrpove student achievement.  For example, share research from GLSEN's National School Climate Survey about the benefits of having supportive school staff or a comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policy.

GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW EDUCATORS CAN BE ALLIES TO LGBT STUDENTS AND THE CHANGES THE SCHOOL CAN MAKE

Briefly share with them specific ways educators can be supportive allies to LGBT students, such as intervening when anti-LGBT behavior occurs, not assuming the sexual orientation or gender identity of their students (or their parents) and including LGBT people, history and events in their curriculum.  Briefly share with them specific changes that will make your school safer.  Use concrete examples, like starting a GSA or making the schools anti-bullying policies inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

LEAVE INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE A FOLLOW-UP MEETING

Photocopy or print key information from Guide to Being an Ally and leave copies with your principal or administrator.  Leave the information that you think will get them to support your efforts.  If possible, try to secure some future time to further discuss the issue.  Give the principal or administrator time to learn more and digest the information before continuing the discusson.

Advocate, Part 3: Promote Non-Discriminator Policies and Practices

 Homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism can manifest themselves in school policies and practices, creating an unwelcoming, unsafe and hostile environment for LGBT students.  Policies and practices that exclude LGBT students, or force them to conform to what is considered by others as "normal", can alienate LGBT students from the school community.  There are many ways to make your school's policies and practices LGBT-inclusive.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Work with school coaches and physical education teachers to combat anti-LGBT language among students and staff, respond when anti-LGBT behavior occurs and create a safe environment within school athletics for LGBT students.  Homophobia and heterosexism are often heavily present on the fields, in the gym, in locker rooms and at sporting events, and sports activities can be some of the most unwelcoming school programs for LGBT students.  Some LGBT students, rather than risk facing harassment or assault, choose to avoid the athletics program altogether.  Those LGBT athletes that do participate may learn to feel shame and self-hatred, and hide their identities at great psychological cost.


SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND DRESS CODES

Work to ensure that school uniforms or dress codes are gender-neutral, with the same set of rules and expectations for all students, regardless of gender.  School uniforms and dress codes that require students to wear clothing deemed appropriate for their gender can restrict students' gender identity and gender expression, resulting in students feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome in their own school community.

SCHOOL EVENTS

Work to ensure that school events are inclusive of same-gender and gender-non-conforming couples.  School events, such as proms, that limit student's guest/date choices to those of another gender can make students feel excluded and unwelcome.  For example, if a prom limits a student's guest choices to someone of another gender, it may make students feel excluded and unwelcome.  This may particularly be a problem in cases when they are explicitly told they cannot bring their same-gender guest or are refused entry because of their guest's gender.


SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Work with school librarians to include LGBT-theme literature in the school library collection.  Use GLSEN's BookLink (at http://www.glsen.org/educator), an online list of recommended books and video resources, to find grade-appropriate literature for your school library.  School libraries are a wealth of information and con provide students with literature on many topics, including multicultural literature.  Farr too often, however, even multicultural literature excludes LGBT people and history.  Imagine being in your school library full of books about all peoples, except people like you.  Leaving out LGBT people, history and events in the library can contribute to LGBT students feeling excluded from their school.

INTERNET FILTERS

Work with your school administrators to ensure that the internet filters are not impeding students from finding positive and helpful information about the LGBT community.  Internet filters are often used in schools to block materials harmful to students, such as violent or pornographic sites, but they sometimes can block useful and necessary information.  Students may be denied access to websites that have valuable LGBT-related resources, such as research, historical facts or support services for LGBT youth.  And in some cases, students my be blocked from positive information but still have access to site condemning LGBT people.

SNAPSHOT - ANTI-LGBT BIAS IN SCHOOL

Vincent was an out, gay-identified senior at his town's only high school.  Although he had occasionally experienced anti-gay name-calling and bullying in the school, he was well-liked and felt fairly comfortable at school.  The senior prom was approaching and Vincent was worried that he wouldn't be allowed to bring his boyfriend and enjoy the special night with his fellow students.  Vincent approached one of the teachers on the prom committee with his concerns.  She promised Vincent that there wouldn't be a problem.  After spending hours preparing and getting read for the prom, Vincent and his boyfriend were rudely told they would not be allowed in the prom on the grounds that all couples needed to be of the opposite sex, and that they should take their "offensive lifestyle" somewhere else.

Advocate, Part 2: Implement Comprehensive Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policies

One major step that school can take to affirm their support for all students' safety is the implementation and enforcement of anti-bullying or harassment policies, also known as safe school policies.  These policies can promote a better school climate for LGBT student when sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are explicitly listed as protected categories.  School official may not recognize that anti-LGBT harassment and bullying are unacceptable behaviors, or may not respond to the problem due to prejudice or community pressure without the cover of a specific policy.  Comprehensive policies that specifically enumerate sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected characteristics remove all doubt that LGBT students, and all students, are protected from anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in school.

Some argue that generic anti-bullying/harassment policies without enumerated cateogries are just as effective as comprehensive ones.  Students' experiences indicate otherwise.  LGBT students from schools with a generic policy experience similar harassment level as students from schools with no policies at all, whereas students from school with comprehensive policy that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression report a less hostile and more supportive school climate.

As an ally, you should find out wheter your school or school district has a comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policy that includes protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  If it does not, advocate for your principal, school board or district administration to adopt one that does.

If your school already has a comprehensive policy, be sure that all members of the school community are regularly notified of the policy.  Often times, a policy may exist but students are not aware of it and may not know that they are protected.  If students are not aware of the policy or how to report incidents of bullying or harassment, then the policy will not be effective.

For more information about safe school laws and policies, including a model school district policy, visit http://www.glsen.org/policy.

Advocate, Part 1: Assess Your School

A key role of an ally is to use the power and influence they have as an educator to advocate for the rights of LGBT students and ensure safe schools for all.  In this section, we discuss three measures that you can advocate for in your school:

• Assessment of your school's climate, policies and practices.
• Implementation of comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policies.
• Promotion of non-discriminatory policies and practices.

This section will also provide some tips for how to talk to your principal, district administration or school board to advocate for these measures.

ASSESS YOUR SCHOOL

The first step in advocating for changes in your school is assessing the current state of your school.  This will help you focus your efforts and identify areas for improvement.  You can examine your school in-depth by learning about people's experiences in your school and examining your school's existing policies, practices and resources.

ASSESS YOUR SCHOOL'S CLIMATE

One of the first steps to changing your school is learning about the experiences of members of your school community.  You can do this by surveying members of your school community - students, staff and parents.  Your survey should include questions that ask about the frequency of biased language, harassment and assault, as well as the level of intervention by educators.  GLSEN has a tool, the Local School Climate Survey (LSCS), which was designed to help educators and community members conduct a survey to assess the climate of their school or community.  Conducting the LSCS can give you detailed data to use when advocating for changes.  There are two versions of the LSCS, one to be conducted in a single school and one to be conducted with several schools or a community.  The LSCS provides you with a sample participant letter, tips for conducting a LSCS and survey form.  All materials can be downloaded at http://www.glsen.org/lscs.


ASSESS YOUR SCHOOL'S POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Understanding to what degree your school is inclusive of LGBT students, families and issues is key to creating a plan of action to ensure that your school is safe and welcoming for all students. 

Educate, Part 3: Engage School Staff

Creating safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression can be a difficult task.  There is no reason to go it alone - help other educators become supportive allies for LGBT students.  Here are some simple ways you can share your commitment to ensure safe schools and your knowledge about the issues with other educators.

BE A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER EDUCATORS

Let your actions as an ally inform others.  Use the appropriate terms - such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer or LGBT - and correct people when you hear incorrect or derogatory language.  Use gender-neutral pronouns and LGBT-inclusive language in school.  Intervene when anti-LGBT behavior occurs and show other educators how to advocate for change within the school.


DISCUSS WITH OTHERS

In the hallways, during lunch or whenever you have a moment, share information with other educators.  Tell them about experiences of LGBT students in school, some of the anti-LGBT behavior incidents you have responded to or about the changes in the school you would like to see.  Letting other educators know about the concrete things they can do may help make being an ally a realistic option for them.  For more ideas, talk with fellow educators about how they are including LGBT people, history and events in their curriculum.  To learn what others are doing and share your own ideas, join the Educator Allies Network, GLSEN's social networking site for K-12 educators, at http://edallies.ning.com.


DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION

Select posts from this guide (e.g. Responding to Anti-LGBT Language and Behavior or When a Student Comes Out to You) and give them to school staff at meetings, post them in a staff lounge or put them in the mailboxes of all staff.  This will provide a non-threatening opportunity for other educators to learn about the issues and what they can do to make a difference.

ADVOCATE FOR STAFF TRAINING

Work with your principal or administrator to obtain training for staff on the school experiences of LGBT student and anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.  Find community organizations that can provide training resources to your school, such as an LGBT community center or a local GLSEN chapter.

GIVE A PRESENTATION TO SCHOOL STAFF

If possible, secure some time during a school staff meeting to discuss the issue of anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.  Provide staff with information about the problem and ideas for how to handle it. 

Educate, Part 2: Make Your Curriculum Inclusive

 Harvey Milk - the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.

An LGBT-inclusive curriculum that provides positive representations of LGBT people, history and events helps to create a tone of acceptance of LGBT people and increase awareness of LGBT-related issues, resulting in a more supportive environment for LGBT students.  GLSEN's National School Climate Survey consistently finds that students with inclusive curricula have a greater sense of belonging to their school community, hear fewer homophobic remarks and are less likely to be victimized or feel unsafe at school than those without inclusive curriculum.

There are many ways to include positive representations of LGBT people, history and events in your curriculum.  Here are a few suggestions.

Only one-tenth of LGBT students were exposed to positive representations of LGBT people, history or events in their classes.  Additionally, less than a fifth of LGBT students reported that LGBT-related topics were included in their textbooks or other assigned readings. -2007 National School Climate Survey

INCLUDE LGBT HISTORY

Raise the visibility of LGBT people and communities by providing students with concrete examples of LGBT people in history and LGBT-related historical events.  For example, when teaching about the Holocaust or about civil rights movements , be sure to include the persecution, struggles and successes of the LGBT community.  You can show documentary films, such as Out of the Past or Gay Pioneers, or you can use GLSEN's When Did It Happen: LGBT History Lesson to teach about important leaders and events in LGBT history.  For resources, visit http://www.glsen.org/educator.

INCLUDE DIVERSE FAMILIES

Whenever possible include examples of diverse families, including same-sex couples and LGBT parents, while referencing families in the classroom.  Providing students with these examples can help LGBT students and students with LGBT family members to feel included in the classroom.

USE LGBT-INCLUSIVE LITERATURE

It is important for students to see themselves reflected in the school curriculum.  Using LGBT-inclusive literature will help to create a welcoming space for LGBT students, as well as promote respect and acceptance among all students.  Be sure to use books that feature positive and diverse representation of LGBT characters.  You can use GLSEN's BookLink (an online resource featuring LGBT-themed and LGBT-inclusive books organized by grade level) to find appropriate books for your curriculum.

CELEBRATE LGBT EVENTS

Celebrating LGBT events can help LGBT students feel included in the school.  Promote LGBT events throughout the school as you would any other cultural celebration.  Celebrate LGBT History Month in October or LGBT Pride Month in June by displaying signs, alerting students and recognizing the struggles, contributions and victories of the LGBT community.

Educate, Part 1: Teach Respect

 As an ally you have the opportunity to educate about anti-LGBT bias, it effects and ways to combat in order to create safer, more welcoming school environments.  This three part section will cover:

• Teach students to respect others.
• Include positive representations of LGBT people, history and events into your curriculum.
• Engage other staff about anti-LGBT bias and ways to create safer schools.

TEACH RESPECT

There are many ways to teach students the importance of respecting all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.  You school could implement a comprehensive school-wide program like GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week.  Or, you may incorporate individual lessons into your curriculum or group activities.  Here are a few resources that educators can use to teach respect and prevent harassment and bulling among students.


"It's amazing how enthralled students will get when there are actual people they can connect with, representing the issues around diversity, discrimination, etc." -School Counselor Ohio

NO NAME-CALLING WEEK LESSON PLANS

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an ongoing dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.  Nevertheless, the accompanying lesson plans are available year-round and can be used at any time.  For information about program and free elementary and secondary-level plans visit: http://www.nonamecallingweek.org.

THINKB4YOUSPEAK EDUCATOR'S GUIDE

GLSEN has created an educator's guide to accompany its public service awareness campaign, created in partnership with the Ad Council, about the hurtful and demeaning term "that's so gay." The guide assists middle and high school educators in facilitating student learning about the negative consequences of homophobic language and anti-LGBT bullying.  The core of the guide consists of six educational activities that increase awareness and knowledge of the issues, develop skills for addressing them and promote social action.  Each lesson and activity can be used on its own or in conjunction with the others.  To download the free guide, visit: http://www.ThinkB4YouSpeak.com/ForEducators.