Although the efforts of these groups focus primarily on the needs of LGBT students, students who have LGBT family members and friends, and students who are perceived to be LGBT, messages of respect, tolerance, and inclusion benefit all our students. Nationwide, students are forming these groups in part to combat bullying and harassment of LGBT students and to promote understanding and respect in the school community. Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and similar student-initiated groups addressing LGBT issues can play an important role in promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning environments. 3 Recent tragedies involving LGBT students and students perceived to be LGBT only underscore the need for safer schools.
2 High levels of harassment and bullying correlate with poorer educational outcomes, lower future aspirations, frequent school absenteeism, and lower grade-point averages.
Thirty-two percent of students aged 12-18 experienced verbal or physical bullying during the 2007-2008 school year 1 and, according to a recent survey, more than 90 percent of LGBT students in grades 6 through 12 reported being verbally harassed - and almost half reported being physically harassed - during the 2008-2009 school year. Harassment and bullying are serious problems in our schools, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are the targets of disproportionate shares of these problems.
