Fostering safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students: Phenomenographic exploration of high school administrators' perceptions about GSAs

ABSTRACT

The U.S. secondary school environment often is hostile and exclusionary toward LGBTQ students. Queer theoretical perspectives have served as the conceptual foundation for a phenomenographic study exploring seven high school administrators' perceptions of their experiences with Gay-Straight Alliances. The study results support prior research that although Gay-Straight Alliances facilitate a reduction in discrimination and victimization against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer student population, these clubs have achieved limited transformative power to challenge and change existing school practices and antigay attitudes that foster intolerance and marginalization of students not conforming to the heteronormative ideal.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBT
• Gay-Straight Alliance
• high school
• sexual minority youth
• heteronormative

Notes on contributors

Dr. Andy K. Steck has been an educator as a classroom teacher, principal, consultant and professor spanning 40 years. Dr. Steck holds an EdD in Educational Leadership and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Education and Teacher Development at the University of La Verne. Andy's teaching and research interests include children's literature, social studies and math methods, online teaching, classroom management, social/emotional learning, educational technology, classroom diversity and safe zone LGBT Ally development training.

Dr. David R. Perry has been involved in education for over 20 years. He holds a PhD in the areas of Educational Technology and Educational Leadership. He is presently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education and Teacher Development at the University of La Verne. Dr. Perry has taught in the areas of mathematics, math methods, instructional strategies, educational technology, computer science and engineering technology. His interests and research are in the areas of online education, web based learning, cultural responsive teaching, math anxiety and instructional design.