Reducing Harassment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth in Schools

Abstract

School-based harassment and violence toward students perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has been successfully confronted in educational systems across the U.S. A sampling of these programs and linked supportive organizations is presented. Three harassment-reduction programs are described in detail. Program-development and evaluation considerations derived from this review are summarized. While some institutional obstacles to such programming remain in these school settings, their models for protecting sexual minority students are supported by ethical, legal, and financial realities.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Henning-Stout

Mary Henning-Stout earned her PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is currently a professor and director of the school psychology program in the Counseling Psychology Department of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She is past cochair of the National Association of School Psychologists' Committee on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues, past vice president of Social and Ethical Responsibility and Ethnic Minority Affairs for the American Psychological Association's Division of School Psychology, and recently completed a term as member of the APA Committee on Children Youth and Families. Her scholarly and research interests center on considerations of diversity.

Steve James

Steve James received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from The Union Institute. He is currently an Associate Professor at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. He is currently the president of the American Psychological Association's Division for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues and has been a member of the APA Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns. Dr. James' special research interest is adoption by gay and lesbian parents.