No Lone Wolf: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQ Youth Through the Development of Allies

Abstract

Research suggests that bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth is a national problem that requires immediate intervention. The purpose of this article is to (a) discuss the critical need for a multidisciplinary approach to creating safe schools for sexual minority youth utilizing a social justice framework, (b) present an allyhood model to serve as a training framework, and (c) offer an exemplar for schools. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach to address the safety and belonging needs of LGBTQ youth, school psychologists and counselors can become leaders of systems-level change, poised to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ students.

KEYWORDS:

• allyhood
• applied social justice
• LGBTQ youth
• school counselors
• school psychologists
• secondary school interventions