LGBTQ+ topics should be taught in schools
Spencer
Spencer Burns
Mrs. Ulsh
English II CP, period 10
30 March 2023
LGBTQ+ topics should be taught in schools
(__) LGBTQ+ topics should be taught in schools in the near future to improve student’s mental health and well being to provide a felling of safety for LGBTQ+ students at school, and to create a positive learning environment for all by teaching about the issues they face. If a person is to learn and grow they need to be in the right conditions to do so, by teaching LGBTQ+ topics in schools it creates a feeling of safety allowing for more learning to happen. It is common for students in school who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community to feel unsafe at school because of their
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13-21 participating, found that close to 60 percent of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 42.5 percent because of their gender expression and 37.4 percent because of their gender"(Majarro) and since …show more content…
Sometimes schools are the only safe places for kids in the LGBTQ+ community to find support in their life, so when in places like Florida where there are bills that, “are aimed at 'dividing, scapegoating, and dehumanizing,' and would ban honest conversations about race and gender identity, Smith said, pointing out that LGBTQ students often don’t live in safe or supportive home environments, making teachers or doctors the only safe adults they have access to”(Baitinger). This is especially dangerous for kids who might be in unsupportive households because it limits the number of safe places they have to go for support, this makes them more susceptible to risky behavoir. Not teaching topics like this to kids leads to bullying and harassment towards those in the community. This is shown in schools that do teach LGBTQ+ topics the cases of harassment were lower than in schools that don’t teach LGBTQ+ topics: "Several studies report that an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum promotes a positive school environment and student well-being. For example, students in California who learned about LGBTQ issues at school reported less teasing and bullying of LGBTQ students"(Bittker). By teaching these sorts of topics and then in turn lower the amount of bullying and harassment in places like schools it ends up creating a safer and healthier learning environment that allows for positive mental health and well-being. There are many studies showing that if
For anyone who does not know, a DBQ is a document based question. The questions that they can ask on a DBQ can range from the pre-columbian indians to the current day, so you have to be able to decipher documents because there is no way you 're going to remember all that history. Why do we use documents in an essay? Let 's send it to the thought bubble… (Anything {} should have a picture to identify it) Documents give a {bigger} grasp of people in the time period.
Political concerns arose because of different beliefs in government structure. The federalist, for instance supported a republic way of government in order to reduce faction. In Document A from the Federalist Papers for example, James Madison explains how because men have different opinions and wealth, having rival parties is almost inevitable. In order to solve this a large republic form of government is an ideal choice, according to him, because there’s a larger representatives and it will be harder for candid The federalists believed that with elite leaders, they would not need to worry about tyranny.
This relates to the United States because the United States are trying to control the things we get educated about in school. According to UCLA, “Many are concerned that the bill will not only result in restricted or nonexistent education about the existence of diverse sexual and gender identities, but it will result in a chilly or hostile school climate for LGBTQ educators, students, and families because it suggests that something is wrong with LGBTQ identities……. Over 16% of LGBTQ parents have already taken steps to move their families out of the state”
Byrd, R., & Hays, D. G. (2013). Evaluating a Safe Space Training for School Counselors and Trainees Using a Randomized Control Group Design. Professional School Counseling, 17(1), 20-31. Authors Rebekah Byrd and Danica G. Hays researched the benefits of training school counselors with Safe Space. The goal was to use this training to increase knowledge, awareness, and the skills counselors may need to work with LGBTQ youth and then attempt to quantify the program’s effectiveness.
In this day and age, the LGTBQ+ community is expanding rapidly. Therefore, the community has included the plus sign at the end to represent those who are questioning, pan-gendered, intersexed, transsexual, or two-spirited and the many new ways people are self-identifying. Each generation is becoming more exposed to more information and are capable to choose from openly out members of the LGBTQ+ community as role models. For younger generations, it may become easier to recognize and acknowledge one’s sexual orientation or gender identity than those apart of Generation X and the Baby Boomers. However, even in this more open-minded society, homophobia is still living, breathing, and thriving.
Over 90% of students who identify themselves as LGBTQ hear discriminating comments on a daily basis at school. People who are from this community have a bigger probability of being victims of hate crimes than any other minority group. This violence is made up of hatred and aggression towards the queer community. Despite personal opinions, everyone deserves to feel safe.
The Child Protection in Public Schools is a bill proposed by the Florida state senate prohibiting the use of pronouns that do not correspond to a person’s legal sex, forbidding the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity for grades K-9, and strictly teaching the benefits of a monogamous heterosexual relationship (Florida Senate). For students who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, they will not be allowed to be referred to by their preferred respective pronouns. The prohibition of pronoun use can be considered as disrespectful or an act of degradation towards gender identity. The lack of education on homosexual sexual orientation may lead to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases or HIV because students were uneducated on the practice of safe intercourse or safe homosexual relationships. Moreover, children who question their gender identity or sexual orientation will not be allowed to seek advice from teachers or school counselors, causing identity confusion and a lack of resources that may not be available at home.
The effects of school-based support on sexual minority youth are well documented, notably, a recent study by Dr. Carol Goodenow, a Director of School Health Programs, suggests that perceived staff support lowered suicidality in LGBT youth (588). This means that schools that had some staff support had lower student suicide rates than schools that did not have staff
While reflecting, California saw the discrimination and abuse which children were suffering from. Specifically, in cases where children are LGBTQ+. With the help of different charities around the area, children with different sexualities can feel safer inside the foster care system. The previously mentioned groups can do this by giving LGBTQ+ children safe spaces, resources, and different outlets to express themselves. In this way, the city of Los Angeles can promote a more accepting environment for those children who might feel different or out of
In 2009, the Hate Crime Protection Act was passed for the federal government to provide state and local authorities grants and assistance to investigate and charge individuals for hate crimes (Human Rights Campaign,a). The Hate Crime Prevention act include hate crimes involving sexual orientation and gender identity (Human Rights Campaign,a). However, violent hate crime continues to increase in the LGBTQ community (Kirst- Ashman, 2014). LGBTQ youth experience abuse and harassment from their peers, teachers, and parents about their sexual preference (Harper & Schneider, 2003). Research by Harper & Schneider (2003)
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual) youth homelessness makes up only 5 to 7 percent of the general youth population, yet up to 40 percent of youth experiencing homelessness. Many LGBTQ youth face harassment, victimization, violence, social stigma, rejection, and discrimination in their families, schools, employment, and social settings. LGBTQ identified youth ages 13 to 17, provides important information regarding how LGBTQ young people experience life in their communities. Nearly half of LGBTQ youth (47 percent) surveyed they do not “fit in” in their community, while only 16 percent of non LGBTQ youth reported feeling that way. 63 percent stated that they will need to move to another part of the country in order to feel accepted.
Many students are denied the right to access bathrooms that correspond with their gender, and others are victims of (sexual) harassment, transphobia, and violence. Transgender youth have high levels of poor mental health and safety in Canada. A Canadian study (source) found that 70% of the youth reported sexual harassment, 2/3 reported self-harm, over 1/3 attempted suicide, and a range between 1/3 and 2/3 had serious thoughts of suicide (source). Transgender students reported a “generally lower connectedness to school” and low mental health. Those who felt a greater connection to their schools reported more stable mental health (source).
According to educator and activist Wade Hudson, "Education is a powerful tool for social change" (Hudson 2021). By educating students about the history and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals, we can challenge harmful stereotypes and prejudices, fostering an environment of acceptance and respect. This early exposure can help students develop a sense of social responsibility and equip them with the tools to challenge discrimination in their communities. Additionally, by highlighting the achievements and struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals, we can create role models for students who may be questioning their own sexual orientation or gender identity. This representation provides validation and support, reducing the isolation and stigma that LGBTQ+ youth often
The American Teen and Gay Bullying Sexual orientation has been a debate for most of the late 20th and 21st centuries, with different people and organizations hampering different opinions about what are right or wrong sexual behaviors. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people have borne the brunt of society’s violence, ranging from being shunned, discriminated when in public places and social events, verbal violence as well as physical attacks. Schools have not been the smooth and friendly environment it should be, for those who are gay or are deemed by their peers to be gay. Owing to the fact that the American population vary widely in the acceptance of sexual orientation, it means that those who are gay are met with violence by many of our population.
Regular kids get bullied because they might be over weight or they are different then everyone else, these kids receive help as long as they ask for it. Some gay students might not get help because their counselor is against gays and imagine how their lives are going to be with a president who doesn't really accept being different. The counter side of my argument is that the LGBTQ community shouldn't have their own rights. They might say that it would take to much money and time to invest in their happiness.