GLSEN - Establish a Gay Lesbian Safe Space in your School

Unfortunately, research continues to show that for an overwhelming majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students, schools are not a safe place to learn and grow.

Nearly two-thirds report feeling unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and nearly 40% felt unsafe because of their gender expression.
85% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed, 40% report being physically harassed because of their sexual orientation.
64% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed, nearly 30% report being physically harassed because of their gender expression.
Anti-LGBT bullying leads to absenteeism, lower grades, reduced self-esteem and, in too many cases, depression and suicide. Students who were more frequently harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression reported a grade point average almost a half grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.7 vs. 3.1).*

It starts with a Safe Space.

GLSEN's Safe Space Kit is a collection of resources for educators to create a positive learning environment for LGBT students. It contains a 42-page guide that provides concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, including how to educate about anti-LGBT bias. It also comes with Safe Space stickers and posters to help students identify supportive educators.

GLSEN needs your help.

For just $20, you can help change a life for the better-and maybe even save one.

Some students say they feel safer at school when one very simple yet critical sign is present: the ability to identify a supportive educator. LGBT students who can identify supportive educators are less likely to skip school out of fear for their safety, report higher grade point averages and have greater educational aspirations.

Here's how it works:

Select the school you most care about or donate a kit for GLSEN to send-we'll take care of the rest.

*Statistics from the 2009 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools, published 9/14/2010.

Education - Support - Visibility

The Safe Space Kit provides a program for action that school staff can take to create a positive learning environment for every student. Each kit contains:

42-page Guide to Being an Ally to LGBT Students that gives concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, including how to educate about anti-LGBT bias and teaching respect for all people.

10 Safe Space Stickers

2 Posters
The kit also shows how to assess the school's climate, policies and practices, and outlines ways to advocate for change inside the school.
The Safe Space Kit starts with a sticker. Placing a Safe Space sticker on an office door or window is a simple but highly visible first step that shows an adult's unwavering support for a student's safety. There is also a poster that can be displayed throughout the school or on an office door to show support to LGBT students and let students know where their allies are should events of bullying occur.

GLSEN strives to ensure that every school in America is safe for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We want a Safe Space Kit to be used in every middle and high school across America to provide all students a safe place to learn.