Ally Yourself with LGBT students
Ally Yourself with LGBT students
Whether or not you know their identity, you can be certain that you are teaching LGBT students. Visible support and small acts of kindness go a long way in helping these youth feel safer and find harmony at school. Not only does fulfilling the role of ally let them know they are not alone, it models for other students that gay and transgender classmates are their peers, worthy of respect and acceptance. More often than not, bullies operate with the tacit approval of the school community.
Here are six LGBT-friendly actions teachers and school staff can take to turn their classroom and hallways into Safe Zones.
1. Post a “Safe Zone” sign in your classroom and office. It signals to LGBT youth that you’ve got their backs.
2. Confront homophobic remarks, including slights and slurs that you overhear. Many students use terms like “fag,” “dyke” and “that’s so gay” without thinking. Let them know in no uncertain terms that such speech is unacceptable.
3. Seek opportunities to incorporate the contributions of LGBT people in science, history, athletics and the arts into your curriculum.
4. Don’t assume any student is gay—or not gay. If LGBT students do confide in you, thank them for their trust. Follow the student’s lead about what else you should do. Perhaps sharing this information is enough at this point. But if the student needs additional support, you can provide invaluable help by being versed in the LGBT-competent resources available in your school, district and community.
5. Organize or encourage district administrators to arrange an in-service with a qualified youth advocate about how to create a safer school for LGBT students.
6. If your school has a Gay-Straight Alliance, volunteer to act as its faculty advisor, or contribute in other ways.
Comments
Confront homophobic remarks
I think it is important to let students know that homophobic remarks are unacceptable. I have heard students say that their remarks are not directed toward anyone, especially in regards to the "that's so gay" comment. I plan to make it clear to students that none of these comments are acceptable, nor are they going to be tolerated in my classroom. Just like other classroom management issues, I think this one should be dealt with immediately and directly. Students should understand what will not be tolerated from day one.
Ally with LGBT students
I think that it is important to always confront students who are making comments that are negative or inappropriate towards students. Our students need to know that the classroom is a safe place for them no matter what their beliefs are.
Ally with LGBT Students
I always wondered at what point the school systems will TRULY create a safe zone. I know so many teachers and administrators that let their personal belief system cloud their professional judgement.
Confront Homophobic remarks
I always have and always will confront these remarks. I feel that teasing students or making comments about them will lower their self esteem and can push them as far as wanting to commit suicide. These types of slurs are just as bad as any other slurs that deal with race, socioeconomic status or appearance and should be handled accordingly.
I will continue to discourage
I will continue to discourage and confront terminology that I hear around school. The use of slanderous terminology towards gays and lesbians is just as bad as using racial slurs towards any person.
Confront homophobic remarks
I will definitely continue to do this in my classroom. It doesn't matter what one person believes. I make it a point in my classroom that everyone has their beliefs. We cannot criticize what they believe. When I hear these remarks in my classroom, I make it a point to address the issue right then. If a teacher does not, those remarks will only continue to get worse.