TEACHERS: You Can Make a Difference
Schools play a vital role in the well-being of GLBT students. While gay children may not be free from homophobia in their homes, places of worship, or neighborhoods, schools have the power to create safe spaces for sexual minority youth. Unfortunately, gay students routinely report
numerous forms of harassment and homophobia from the school personnel who are charged with their safekeeping. The presence of a single welcoming teacher can make a huge difference in the life of a GLBT young person. When rural gay and lesbian students were asked how a teacher might best meet their needs they responded with the following statements.
In Their Own Words:
No teachers ever interfered with me being harassed or teased. One teacher in the whole school had a rule about not saying ‘faggot' in his classroom—otherwise homophobic slurs flewaround everywhere and the only time I ever saw teachers interfere was in the case of vandalism (saying faggot is fine, but carving it on the desk is not).
(Female, Pennsylvania)
School was horrifying everyday. I was not only scared that other students would harass me, but also terrified that teachers would make homophobic remarks or ask me about my interest in girls. I hated it when teachers would just assume that I was interested in women. As a result, I was depressed through much of high school and did not come out of the closet until college.
(Male, Illinois)
It was horrible. I didn't have anyone to turn to. I hated school my entire life. Even before I knew I was gay, I knew I was different and others picked up on that.
(Female, Nebraska)
I'd really like my community to be more aware of homosexuality because it's a lot more common around here than most realize. I wish that my teachers would have used gender-neutral language and made GLBT-friendly literature available to students.
(Male, Texas)
Address the issue in a positive way. Don't ignore it, and don't put up with students who talk negatively about it.
(Female, North Carolina)
Overall, I would describe my experience as pretty awful. I spent most of adolescence stressed out, worried, afraid of my peers, angry with my teachers, and ashamed of my family. My home life was good, and I had good friends, I was a smart kid and involved in a lot of activities – but it just was not enough to make up for the verbal and physical threats and violence I experienced on a daily basis.
(Female, Pennsylvania)
I know just how much it stunk being there and feeling like I couldn't be who I was, and no one should have to go through that.
(Female, Iowa)
The amazing thing about rural communities is how tightknit they are. It is really different to be ostracized in a rural community as opposed to in a city, because in a rural community the community is kind of all there is – and if you get kicked out of it for whatever reason, it can just feel like you are entirely alone in the world.
(Female, Pennsylvania)