Things You Can Do to Support LGBTQ+ Students

Posted: January 12, 2025

LGBTQ+ youth face numerous challenges, including health disparities. They are at risk of poor mental health when compared to cisgender and heterosexual youth. They also face an increased risk of substance misuse, suicide, bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Research suggests that LGBTQ+ youth are likely to face discrimination and rejection not only at home but also in school settings. Given these risks, it’s essential that teachers are prepared to support LGBTQ+ students.

Strategies for Providing LGBTQ+ Support To Students

Teachers can play an instrumental role in offering support to LGBTQ+ students, so they feel safe and welcomed at school. The strategies below are likely to be helpful.

Teach About Diversity and Tolerance

Teachers set the example for their students in the classroom, and teaching about diversity and tolerance can set the stage for acceptance of LGBTQ+ peers. In the classroom, teachers can facilitate discussions about diversity, inclusion, and the importance of respecting differences. Such talks can be tailored to the developmental needs of students. Curriculum related to diversity and tolerance has been identified as important for creating safety at school for LBGTQ+ students. Such a curriculum could include discussions of diverse family structures as well as history lessons related to civil rights and advocacy for those who are different from the norm.

Be a Trusted Adult

LGBTQ+ youth who have connections with trusted adults report greater feelings of safety at school. If you’re working with LBGTQ+ youth, you have the opportunity to be the trusted adult who makes a difference in the lives of these youth. Communicate to students in your classroom that you care about their success not just academically, but also as whole people. You can become a trusted adult by offering a non-judgemental listening ear to students. Be sure to respect privacy and confidentiality, and don’t share any information about the student’s identity without their permission. This will build trust.

Create Safe Spaces

LGBTQ+ youth desire safe spaces, where they feel as if they belong. You can first create safety in your classroom, by setting ground rules related to respect. Do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination, or bullying in your classroom. Model respect for differences for your students, and they will be likely to follow suit. Additionally, you can play a role in creating safe spaces specifically for LGBTQ+ youth in the school community. With permission from administrators, you can lead the development of an LBGTQ+ support group or club on campus.

Advocate for LGBTQ+ Students

Students belonging to the LGBTQ+ population benefit from advocacy. As a teacher, you can advocate for the needs of these students by communicating their needs to school administrators, as well as colleagues. For instance, if you have a student who is struggling, it can be helpful to facilitate a conversation with other teachers in the building who interact with this student. Additionally, you can advocate for LGBTQ+ students by offering training to colleagues. As an advocate with specialized knowledge in this area, you could volunteer to offer a training on LBGTQ+ student needs during a professional development day.

Be Aware of Community Resources

Teachers can be beneficial sources of support for LBGTQ+ youth. However, sometimes these youth may need more support than can be provided in the classroom or during the course of the school day. Given this fact, it’s important to be aware of resources available in the community. Keep a list of resources on hand, such as local counseling centers specializing in LBGTQ+ counseling care or support groups within the community. You can also refer students to the Trevor Project, which offers informational articles about LBGTQ+ topics as well as a 24/7 crisis hotline. In some cases, students may simply need to talk to the school counselor, so it’s helpful to develop a strong working relationship with the counseling department at your school. Bridge to Balance offers a range of mental health services at several office locations in New Jersey. We’ve recently opened an office in Portland, Maine. We provide services for LGBTQ+ community members, including a LGBTQ+ support groupsupport group for teens. Contact us today to learn more about our service options. References 1)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8916108/ 2)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15388220.2017.1308255 3)https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316885 4)https://www.thetrevorproject.org/