As some may know, being part of the LGBTQ+ community can have an effect on school life. School can make it hard to be yourself; there are people who, make fun of someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Public schools have common harassment based on appearance or behavior that doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes: boys who wear makeup, girls who wear pants, or students who are transgender or non-binary. The First Amendment right to free expression can also apply to school dress codes. Many young queer people get harassed not just at school. They get discrigrimid at stores, and public places. Trans or non-binary people also get harassed; in public, and try to use bathrooms. Things like this make it hard for LGBTQ+ people to live and be themselves. Since the start of 2021, at least 32 state legislatures have proposed bills to authorize discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. These bills range from denying children’s access to gender-affirming health care, requiring active parental permission for any discussion of LGBTQ+ topics or people in public school classes, and, in at least 21 states, restricting the participation of transgender students in school athletics. Due to these acttions agenst the LGBTQ+, study shows that high school students who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, are over three times more likely than straight-identified students to commit suicide (46.8% vs. 14.5%).

We can help stop this discrimination. To help, we can put gender-neutral bathrooms in schools, have LGBTQ+ clubs/alliance, and have LGBTQ+ helplines, whether it's a poster or a phone in the office. You can also have a safe place like a classroom with a supporting teacher who you can go to if you feel unsafe. Many young LGBTQ+ people may not have enough confidence to stand up for themselves or talk to other people about their struggles. So if you see someone who is struggling with LGBTQ+ discrimination talk to them or try and help them, like taking a stand against LGBTQ+ discrimination. Affirming studants sexual and gender identities by using their chosen names and stated pronouns, providing equal access to school facilities and activities, and showcasing positive examples of LGBTQ+ individuals can significantly help the disparate negative outcomes that LGBTQ+ children.

for more info go to:

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/lgbtq-rights#are-lgbtq-students-protected-from-discrimination-in-schools​ 

https://www.childtrends.org/blog/policies-that-discriminate-against-lgbtq-students-are-not-aligned-with-child-development-research