Involved, Invisible, Ignored: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents and Their Children in Our Nation's K-12 Schools

• NCJ Number: 230594
• Author(s): Joseph G. Kosciw, Ph.D.; Elizabeth M. Diaz
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 138 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Spencer Foundation
• Corporate Author: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
• Sale Source: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey; Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study documented the school-related experiences of both lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents with children in K-12 U.S. schools and the school experiences of students with LGBT parents.

Abstract

Study findings indicate that LGBT parents are highly involved with their children's education. They were even more likely than parents in the general population to volunteer for work at the school, be a member of the school's parent-teacher organization, attend parent-teacher conferences, and initiate contact with school personnel regarding their children's current and future education. Approximately two-thirds of LGBT parents reported having talked with school personnel at the start of the school year about being an LGBT parent, and 45 percent had such discussions with the school principal during the school year. Fifty-six percent of LGBT parents reported having discussions with their children about their learning in school related to LGBT individuals. The LGBT parents reported a relatively low incidence of negative experiences from school personnel, but they were more likely to report mistreatment by other parents at school; however, the study found that significant percentages of students with LGBT parents were subjected to incidents of biased language in school related to their having LGBT parents, along with various forms of harassment, assault, and other types of mistreatment. Recommendations for school-related resources and support regarding these issues focus on access to information about LGBT families and other LGBT-related topics, establishment of student clubs that support LGBT students, training and organization for support of LGBT children and parents by members of the school community, and the development and implementation of safe school policies that encompass the treatment of children of LGBT parents and LGBT students. Also, State-level comprehensive safe school legislation should encompass antidiscrimination related to such children. 25 tables, 55 figures