Do+public+schools+have+groups+for+the+LGBTQ+community+and+if+so+what+are+they+and+how+are+they+effecting+the+school?


 * Research Question: ** Do Schools help integrate the LGBTQ community, and if so what are the programs and how does it affect the school


 * 1.) ** **URI opens $2.1-million Gender and Sexuality Center. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from **[|**http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150506/NEWS/150509479**]

This article from [|www.providencejournal.com]  was about the 2.1 million dollar Gender and Sexuality Center here at our own University of Rhode Island. This center is the first of its kind. This all started years ago when the University of Rhode Island dealt with protests over hate crimes and a list of demands for greater recognition of the LGBT community. The University has provided spaces for minority, multicultural, and women’s group. The LGBT community has felt it deserves one too. They went a step further and 3 ½ years later the stone building was a reality. The center comes before the president’s house, making a statement. 300 people from the student body, faculty, and surrounding community attended the opening ceremony, including President David M. Dooley. The LGBT community was extremely thankful.

The Gender and Sexuality Center at URI partly answers my research question, which is if schools have groups or centers for the LGBTQ community, and if so how are they affecting the school? The center is proof that schools are making strides to accommodate LGBTQ students. Personally, I don’t agree with the fact that a 2.1 million dollar building had to be made explicitly for this purpose. I think that money could go to better educational facilities. It is a University after all. However, it is good that this helps people feel more comfortable at their school.


 * 2.) ** **Why colleges see gay students as a growth market. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://time.com/3211813/lgbt-gay-colleges-resources/ **

This article from Time.com. Schools across America are seeing LGBT students as a growth market. When Josh Bergeleen came out at the age of 18, his freshman year, he felt uncomfortable. That changed when he realized his college Emory University of Atlanta was such a welcoming environment. When his family was unaccepting, the LGBT student support office made him feel comfortable with himself. With more and more people becoming open about themselves, these centers at campuses are an important part of reeling in students. In some ways, an LGBT center is a competitive advantage. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Kennesaw State University both have centers for LGBT students as well. Since these additions, the amount of visiting students has gone up. The “Campus Pride Index” helps LGBT students find a school that is right for them. The index rates schools on 1 to 5 stars based on a 50 question survey. 400 campuses and counting have taken this survey. Any school that has not taken steps for its LGBT member will need to catch up.

TIME’s article came as a huge shock for me. I had no idea that over the past decade schools all over the country are having LGBT centers and support groups in such large numbers. The “Campus Pride Index” was new to me as well and I think it is a genius way to let people know how comfortable they will be before they make their decision. The fact that 400 and counting schools have taken this survey is truly astonishing and speaks to the LGBT revolution happening on college campuses everywhere. These programs have made these schools a more welcoming place for not only LGBT students, but for everyone. It is my hope that the schools lagging behind will soon catch up with these great support programs for the LGBT community.


 * 3.) ** **Gay Friendly Public Schools: Will New Program Ideas Decrease Violence and Tension? | PublicSchoolReview.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/gay-friendly-public-schools-will-new-program-ideas-decrease-violence-and-tension **

This article from [|www.publicschoolreview.com] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was titled “Gay Friendly Public Schools: Will New Program Ideas Decrease Tension? The City of Chicago, Illinois is setting the groundwork for gay friendly public schools, where they say gay students and other people who choose to attend won’t face the bullying and harassment that they endure in other schools. Naturally, both the school system and the community are caught in a heated debate about these schools and what it means for the future. In the past, New York created the Harvey Milk School and the Milwaukee Alliance High School, both of which have been inspirations for Chicago. William Greaves is Chicago’s liaison to the gay community, and an advocate of the new school. He has proposed the “Social Justice High School-Pride Campus” where roughly 600 students could go for college preparatory courses. Many parents and others are greatly opposed to this idea. They say it goes against the Bible so they can’t support it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In my opinion, there is so much wrong with this situation in Chicago. First off, I want to say that everyone should be judged based on their character, not gender, race, or sexual orientation. Additionally, everyone should feel safe in their school and steps should be made to help students who don’t. However, creating a separate “gay friendly” school is ridiculous and asinine. Firstly, it is segregation. Secondly, it is evasion of reality. In the real world you interact with people with greatly different opinions than yours. Discussing and debating with others is a fantastic way to learn about the different sides of issues and also more about yourself. Separating students based on their opinions doesn’t facilitate a good environment to learn. Additionally this school would just cost too much that it would make the schools in its school system weaker. Rhode Island schools and all schools can learn from this to devise ways in which people feel comfortable, but without sacrifice learning, which is what school is all about.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4.) ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Membership. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from [] **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">This article is titled “Respect, Resilience, and LGBT Students” from Educational <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Leadership. The article starts off by saying that it is very common to hear insults thrown around in a school setting that are hurtful to LGBTQ students. It can make people feel like there is something wrong with them, when there is not. 70% of students who are LGBTQ have reported harassment in their school settings. However anti-bullying policy, LGBTQ curriculum, and Gay-Straight Alliances have proved to be a source of resilience to build up LGBTQ students. Supportive adults can also be a great presence in school systems. It is not uncommon to hear about how a single teacher changed a student’s life for the better. School policies can protect students and dissuade bullies. In addition, something of great importance for the education of all students is an LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum. Students can learn about positive LGBT people in history as well as events to build up those going their own personal issues and reduce prejudices in schools. The article ended on the note that individually, everyone can make a difference in someone else’s life.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This article really drove home the point that there are many and various ways in which schools can improve their relationships with LGBTQ students. People can go to support center, join a club, talk to a teacher, and learn about LGBTQ groups in history. All of this combined I think can make schools an integrated community for all involved. While the article talked about the benefits of schools policies, I think they don’t do much to help. I have first-hand seen other people bullied in a school that has a zero tolerance policy. However it protects just one kid, it may be worth it. I also agree with the article on the point that a single teacher can make a huge difference. The best teachers bring the classroom together and make everyone feel welcome in the environment.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5.) ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">ERIC - The 2011 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), 2012. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED535177 **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">This article is the “2011 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Our Nation’s Schools. This survey explored demographic and community-level differences in LGBT students’ experiences and their school climate. They specifically examine biased remarks, feeling unsafe in school, missing class due to safety reasons, assault, and harassment. In addition they researched the possible negative effects of a hostile school climate on academic achievement, whether or not victimization is reported, and how school experiences of LGBT students differ by personal or community characteristics. Finally, they explore the benefits of resources such as Gay-Straight Alliances, anti-bullying laws, supportive school staff, and curriculum that is inclusive of LGBT-related topics. To get the data, there was national and local outreach, and targeted advertising on social media forms. It was concluded that schools should offer training to teachers about LGBT issues, increase support, and adopt and implement bullying/harassment policies.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In regards to the research question, this survey clearly facilitated the discussion that set up new programs and groups for LGBTQ community members. I believe that these surveys helped get a firm grasp on the problem at hand, and were beneficial to LGBTQ issues. I think it was interesting that the survey used social media to gather participants. This definitely ensured that there was a wide range of participants and got accurate results.