School Professionals’ Responses to LGBTQ Training

School professionals who are visibly supportive of LGBTQ youth are critically important to creating inclusive schools. These are educators who intervene when they witness homophobia, express support for LGBTQ rights, and create opportunities for gender and sexual diversity to be visible in the school environment. When LGBTQ youth are able to connect with these supportive educators, they experience greater educational success.

However, practicing school professionals often feel ill-prepared to meet the needs of LGBTQ students or are completely unaware that the needs exist. Research indicates that without education and professional development, teachers are unable to understand how to effectively apply school antiharassment policies or otherwise secure a safe learning environment. For example, when asked about their intervention efforts, teachers often report that, although motivated to intervene ...