Safe Schools: Preventing and Addressing Anti-Gay Bullying

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2. 2 Moderator Joan Lerman, MSSW School Administrative Consultant Prevention/School Violence Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team Department of Public Instruction

3. 3 This month�s webcast is brought to you with partnerships between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Office of Justice Assistance, Homeland Security Program, Wisconsin Emergency Management, Department of Health Services and partnering organizations involved in the Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness.

4. 4 Audio Difficulties? Make sure the volume is turned up (volume button beneath the speaker�s picture) Make sure the volume on the computer is turned up (volume icon located on the right hand side of your computer taskbar) Contact your IT department If audio and visual is lost during the program, go back to: http://media2.wi.gov/dpi/catalog/, and click on the Student Services Prevention and Wellness Team link on the left, then when the SSPW Team page of archived programs appears, select the program link desired. If problem persists contact Joan Lerman (608) 266-2829.

6. We envision schools where all students thrive regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We help students and educators create safe schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youths and all students. www.gsaforsafeschools.org

7. Basic LGBTQ�XYZ Vocabulary Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Questioning Queer

8. Biological Sex Gender rigidity leads to early surgeries approximately 10 per year at birth in WI Estimate in past: 1 in 400 Now: 1 in 200 based on increased knowledge in the field on reproduction/infertilityGender rigidity leads to early surgeries approximately 10 per year at birth in WI Estimate in past: 1 in 400 Now: 1 in 200 based on increased knowledge in the field on reproduction/infertility

9. Gender

10. Sexuality

11. Vocabulary Pitfalls

12. It�s Verbal The majority of WI youth experience verbal harassment due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Nearly three-fourths (72%) of Wisconsin youth hear �that�s so gay� frequently or often. 75% of WI youth say that it significantly bothers or distresses them when they hear �gay� used in a derogatory way. 2009 GSAFE Wisconsin School Climate Survey Citation for statistics one and two: GLSEN 2003 National School Climate Survey. GLSEN is the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network citation for #3: Bart, M. Creating a Safer School for Gay students. Counseling Today, Sept. 1998 In other word, verbal hostility towards homosexuality is a constant barrage in the school environment, whether directed towards the individual or not.Citation for statistics one and two: GLSEN 2003 National School Climate Survey. GLSEN is the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network citation for #3: Bart, M. Creating a Safer School for Gay students. Counseling Today, Sept. 1998 In other word, verbal hostility towards homosexuality is a constant barrage in the school environment, whether directed towards the individual or not.

13. 25% of WI LGBT youth have been physically harassed because of their sexual orientation, 21% because of their gender expression. Transgender and gender non-conforming youth experience more incidents of harassment and assault due to their sexual orientation, their gender, and their gender expression. 2009 GSAFE Wisconsin School Climate Survey It�s Physical citation:GLSEN 2003 national school climate survey The point here again is that harassment comes in lots of forms. We may misinterpret actions as simply theft for example, when in fact it is really bullying.citation:GLSEN 2003 national school climate survey The point here again is that harassment comes in lots of forms. We may misinterpret actions as simply theft for example, when in fact it is really bullying.

14. A quarter of WI youth report that faculty/staff never intervene when homophobic remarks are made in their presence. 2009 GSAFE Wisconsin School Climate Survey Two-thirds of LGBT youth report hearing homophobic remarks from faculty or school staff. 2007 GLSEN National School Climate Survey Educators Don�t Always Intervene Limited access to help and support suitable for teens is a major barrier identified by youth. What kind of role model are you? What are the school policies on this behavior?Limited access to help and support suitable for teens is a major barrier identified by youth. What kind of role model are you? What are the school policies on this behavior?

15. Impact on Learning

16. 4 out of 5 students who are harassed on account of perceived sexual orientation are heterosexual.* WI YRBS Correlation Analysis Study from 1997, 1999, and 2001 Compared students who reported being threatened or hurt because someone thought they were gay, lesbian, or bisexual with other students. *National Education Association. �Strengthening the Learning Environments: A School Employee�s Guide to GLBT Issues,� 2nd edition (2006). The Broad Impact

17. Students who said �yes� were more likely to: Be threatened/ injured at school Be sexually harassed at school Not attend school because they felt unsafe Have felt so sad they stopped doing activities Attempt suicide Drink alcohol in past 30 days Vomit/use laxatives to lose weight Have sexual intercourse before the age of 13 The Broad Impact

18. Who�s the target?

20. WI Pupil Non-Discrimination Law (State Stat. 118.13) Public schools may not exclude students from school or school activities or programs on the basis of sexual orientation. Schools must have a written policy. Schools must have a complaint process. DPI Administrative Code PI 9.02 Interprets 118.13 to include �harassment� under definition of �discrimination� WI Anti-Bullying Law Written policy and complaint process again required. State Laws

21. Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment Schools have a constitutional duty to protect LGBT students from harassment on an equal basis with all other students. Title IX Prohibits gender-based harassment, including harassment due to a student�s failure to conform to stereotyped notions of masculinity and femininity Equal Access Act Schools must treat GSAs on an equal basis with other non-curricular clubs. Federal Laws

22. Professional Responsibility Educators have a responsibility to support all students in their classrooms, regardless of their personal feelings or beliefs. Support means being intentionally inclusive and working to affirm youth and their families. Support is not feeling sorry for or simply tolerating them.

23. Students are often unaware of the fact that they have laws that protect them. Students who are aware of laws that protect them they are less likely to skip class or school.* Take reports seriously. Encourage students to report further incidents of violence. You want to hear from your students. It�s not a matter of if it�s happening, but where and when and to whom. *2003 GLSEN National School Climate Survey Educate Students About Their Rights and Reporting Process

24. Common Language Name it, Claim it, Stop it (walk away) �Zero Indifference� � Goldstein, Nancy �Addressing Homophobic Behavior in the Classroom� � Horowitz, Alan Some Strategies for Educators and School Staff

25. Support student efforts to form GSAs and engage the school community through GSAs. Students in schools with a GSA experience less victimization related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Those students are less likely to report that they feel unsafe and more likely to report a sense of connectedness. Students report feelings of safety whether they attend the club or not. 2009 GLSEN National School Climate Survey Help Students Make it Better Now

26. Students who saw positive portrayals of LGBT people, history and events in the classroom were also less likely to have skipped school due to not feeling safe, reported higher academic performance, and had higher future educational aspirations than those who did not. 2009 GSAFE WI School Climate Survey There are age-appropriate ways to teach it. Anti-bias trainings are part of anti-bullying education. The less we talk about it, the worse it gets. Teach About It

27. Consultation and Training are available from GSA for Safe Schools. For more information please contact: Brian Juchems (Brian J.) 608.661.4141 brianj@gsaforsafeschools.org www.GSAforSafeSchools.org

28. 28 Any comments regarding this webcast?Any suggestions on future school safety topics? Contact: Joan Lerman 608-266-2829 joan.lerman@dpi.wi.gov

29. 29 Programs archived at: http://media2.wi.gov/dpi/catalog