Effects of “Safe School” Programs and Policies on the Social Climate for Sexual-Minority Youth: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Research indicates lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are a vulnerable population—a status that can be attributed to a hostile social climate at school. Intervention strategies, such as educational policies, programs, and a supportive environment, improve the social climate for LGBT students in secondary schools and universities. Yet, no studies have compiled and synthesized existing research to show the exclusively positive effect safe school interventions and supportive environments have on LGBT youth. This article presents a summary of the various intervention strategies, examines the strengths and limitations of the existing body of knowledge, and makes recommendations for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• educational policies
• gay
• harassment
• heterosexism
• intervention strategies
• lesbian
• safe school policy
• safe school program
• school climate
• sexual-minority youth
• victimization