This report explores school climate for transgender and gender nonconforming youth in New York State since the passage of the Dignity Act. Telling the stories of real New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) clients, it documents the experiences of students facing discrimination. In some of these cases, the NYCLU was able to work with students to…

This study examines teachers' narratives about their support of LGBTQ students and their reasons for engaging in this work. The teachers represented here are past participants of the Reduction of Stigma in Schools--a professional development program that aims to provide teachers with knowledge and tools that will empower them to create affirming…

Objective: Although bisexual men report lower levels of mental health relative to gay men, few studies have examined the factors that contribute to bisexual men's mental health. Bisexual men are less likely to disclose, and more likely to conceal (i.e., a desire to hide), their sexual orientation than gay men. Theory suggests that this may…

High school is a profoundly social experience for students. Having friends is central to being "visible"--to having an identity--in school. Social positioning, friendship groups, romance dramas, and the battle to "fit in" gain the attention and drain the energy of students far more than do academic pursuits. Lesbian, Gay,…

A lesbian teacher, recently returned from four years in Japan and teaching an intermediate ESL class in a public community college in New York City, struggles with addressing the issue of her own sexual orientation while using a novel with a protagonist who is questioning his sexual identity. The evolution of gay/lesbian and/or queer theory…

The GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) Research Department conducted an evaluation of the New York City Department of Education's (NYC DOE) "Respect for All" training program for secondary school educators. The two-day training program, which was one component of the NYC DOE's "Respect for All" initiative, was…

Building upon previous exploratory qualitative research (Kidd S.A. (2003) "Child Adol. Social Work J." 20(4):235-261), this paper examines the mental health implications of social stigma as it is experienced by homeless youth. Surveys conducted with 208 youths on the streets and in agencies in New York City and Toronto revealed…

This study examined childhood gender atypicality, lifetime victimization based on sexual orientation, and current mental health, including trauma symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among 528 lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Nearly 80% reported verbal victimization, 11% physical, and 9% sexual, with males reporting significantly…