Southern Safe Schools Coalitions: A Community Response to Addressing Health and Safety Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth

Background: LGBTQ+ youth experience harassment at schools, rejection from families and faith communities, and higher rates of suicide and drug and alcohol abuse.  In response, many communities have created Safe Schools Coalitions (SSCs) to meet the needs of this population. LGBTQ+ youth in the South may be particularly vulnerable because of their location in a culture that is highly religious and rural in nature.  The purpose of this project was to explore the three Southern SSCs, to understand strengths, challenges and the impact of Southern culture on their programming and advocacy efforts. 

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine leaders of three SSCs in the South. Leaders were asked about 1) formation, structure and programming, 2) internal/external communication, 3) diversity, 4) Southern cultural context and 5) goals and challenges in their health and safety advoacy.  A content analysis was conducted based on interview transcriptions.

Results: Each organization was founded by teachers, counselors, public health professionals, LGBTQ+ youth and/or adult allies. Participants consistently described innovative materials, organizing methods, and tools adopted from national resources or developed by their members to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth health and safety in a uniquely Southern way. 

Conclusions: The results of this study highlight strengths and challenges of SSCs, and the unique contribution that public health professionals can play in community organizing for this population. SSCs in the South are emerging as innovative vehicles for improving health and safety outcomes for this population.  Specific methods of adopting national resources for Southern communities present opportunities for application to other underserved regions.