LGBTQ Issues in K–12 Education Across Global Contexts

K–12 LGBTQ students comprise nearly 15% of the world’s population; however, LGBTQ students across the globe still report experiencing marginalization (e.g., powerlessness and isolation), stigmatization (e.g., feelings of disgrace due to their social identity), invisibility (e.g., feeling overlooked or suppressed), as well as overt and covert discrimination. For example, 84% of K–12 U.S. LGBTQ students report being harassed for their sexual orientation, and more than 45% of these students report that the term gay is used derogatively within school contexts. Moreover, close to 90% of LGBTQ middle and high schoolers worldwide report experiencing antigay slurs, suggesting that LGBTQ hostility increases during adolescence. Hostile K–12 environments are particularly concerning given the amount of time students are in school at this age as well as the central ...