School climate and the experience of LGBT students: A comparison of the United States and Israel

ABSTRACT

This article examines the school experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students in the United States and Israel. Through comparison of the sociocultural and edu-cational contexts, the authors assess whether school experience of LGBT students differs or operates similarly across countries. The authors use data from the National School Climate Survey conducted in 2007 in the United States and the Israeli School Climate Survey conducted in 2008 in Israel. In comparison with their Israeli counterparts, LGBT students in the United States were more likely to experience assault and harassment in schools but were more likely to have access to LGBT supportive resources in their schools. Results from multi-variate analysis show that negative school climate affect absent-eeism and school belonging similarly for both countries.

KEYWORDS:

• School climate
• LGBT youth
• NGOs
• Israel
• United States
• comparative education

Notes on contributors

Oren Pizmony-Levy is an Assistant Professor of International and Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Trained as a sociologist, he is broadly interested in education, globalization, and transnational social movements. In one line of research he examined the experience of Israeli LGBT youth in schools and in the military. He is currently exploring the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serving LGBT youth and students worldwide, and public opinion toward the LGBT-related curriculum.

Joseph G. Kosciw is the Chief Research and Strategy Officer at GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). GLSEN is U.S.-based NGO whose mission is to ensure safe and affirming K-12 educational environments for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression. He is a community psychologist by training and has also been a school counselor and family therapist. He started GLSEN's research program in 2001 and now also oversees GLSEN's education and youth programs and its international program.