NCJ Number
188824
Date Published
2001
Length
221 pages
Annotation
This report examines the harmful impacts of negative attitudes and behaviors toward homosexual youth in public schools and the failure of school officials, administrators, and teachers to protect all students from discrimination, harassment, and violence and recommends actions by the government, local school boards, and schools to end these human rights violations.
Abstract
The research took place in seven states. Information came from interviews with 140 youth between the ages of 12 and 21, and with 130 adults, including youth service providers, teachers, administrators, school counselors, and parents. The open-ended questions used in the interviews resulted from consultation with a youth advisory group and were based on discussions with attorneys, researchers, and advocates and a review of news accounts, academic research, and legal cases. The discussion notes that most researchers believed that between 5 and 6 percent of youth are homosexual or bisexual and that these youth often disclose their sexual orientation to peers, teachers, and families in middle school or early high school. Verbal harassment of these youths is a serious problem in high schools and middle schools and that unchecked verbal harassment may quickly escalate into physical violence, including sexual assaults. However, the government has failed to fulfill its obligation to ensure that all youth enjoy their right to education in a setting that is free from discrimination, harassment, and violence. Recommended actions include nondiscrimination policies in all school districts to protect youth from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, training for staff and students if a gap exists between policy and practice, and Federal and State legislation to protect school employees from discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Footnotes, photographs, and appended background materials