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.
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