LGBTQ youth action research as a tool for policy and school change

The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools. However, while most schools have anti-discrimination policies that address sexual orientation and gender identify, they often lack specific policies and training to implement the Act and ensure equitable and safe environments for LGBTQ youth (California Safe Schools Coalition, 2006). Compromised safety of LGBTQ students is seen in Marin County, where 7% of females and 15% of males in grades 7-11 report their sexual orientation as a reason for harassment in school (California Healthy Kids Survey, WestEd, 2008). LGBTQ students face higher rates of mental health problems, sexual health risks, substance abuse, and family issues (California Postsecondary Education Commission, 2009).

The purpose of the current work is to engage youth in action research in their schools and develop a plan of action for policy and social norm changes to prevent discrimination and alleviate risks and challenges faced by LGBTQ youth. Youth researchers developed a survey to measure school climate; experience of homophobic language, harassment, and violence and adult responses to those occurrences, and existing school LGBTQ resources (including curricula, positive adults, and policies). Youth implemented the survey in 4 high schools in two Marin County school districts.

This presentation includes youth researchers' findings from the 3,000 surveys they administered in Winter 2011 and the resulting recommendations and action plan to improve the health and safety of students they develop in Winter/Spring 2011.