National School Climate Survey 2007: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools

• NCJ Number: 230595
• Author(s): Joseph G. Kosciw, Ph.D.; Elizabeth M. Diaz; Emily A. Greytak, M.S.Ed.
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 169 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: IBM Corporation
• 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 2007 National School Climate Survey (NSCS) examined the school experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students in U.S. schools regarding the following indicators of negative school climate: hearing biased remarks in school; feeling unsafe in school because of personal characteristics such as sexual orientation or race/ethnicity; missing classes or days of school due to safety fears; and being harassed and/or assaulted in school.

Abstract

The survey found that 9 out of 10 LGBT students were subjected to negative comments in school, most often anti-LGBT remarks. More than half (60.8 percent) of the students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and 38.4 percent felt unsafe because of their gender expression. Almost half (44.1 percent) of students had been physically harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, and 30.4 percent because of their gender expression. The majority (60.8 percent) of students who were harassed or assaulted in school did not report the incident to school staff because they believed little or no action would be taken or because the situation could become worse if they reported it. Of the students who did report an incident, 31.1 percent indicated that school staff did nothing in response. For the LGBT students who felt unsafe or uncomfortable in school, absenteeism increased, academic achievement declined, and educational aspirations were lowered. This report recommends the enactment of comprehensive safe school and antidiscrimination legislation at the State and Federal levels that specifically indicates sexual orientation and gender identity/expression as protected categories. It also recommends the implementation of comprehensive safe school policies in individual schools and districts, including clear and effective systems for reporting and addressing prohibited acts. Also recommended are student and staff training designed to prevent and counter bias against LGBT students. 12 tables, 90 figures, and 144 notes