As early as 1983, a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenders (LGBTs) in the San Francisco Bay Area met with the United Way to discuss the needs of the community in the workplace. In 1986, the United Way authorized a board-level task force on LGBT issues, which looked at health and human care concerns. In 1990, Building Bridges was formed…

Researchers suggest that supportive school personnel may decrease some of the challenges encountered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in schools (Russell, Seif, & Truong, 2001); however, little is known about the approaches used by school-based advocates for LGBT youth. This exploratory study investigated the strategies used…

This brief discusses the Equal Access Act of 1984 and the clarifications set out in the 1990 case of "Board of Education of the Westside Community Schools v. Mergens", as to the protections afforded to queer-friendly student clubs and organizations in public schools. The brief also touches on why these queer-friendly clubs and…

When Larry King was murdered, allegedly due to a classmate's prejudice, some pundits asked if adults were to blame for encouraging him to come out. They can't be sure what adults did or didn't do, but the question remains: Should adults encourage LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered] youth to come out? No. They shouldn't push a young…

The young adult novels of Alex Sanchez belong in every high school English classroom and media center. With compelling plots and significant themes, Sanchez's six novels create numerous rich learning opportunities for students. In this article, the author describes how Sanchez's novels on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender themes can be…

In an effort to better understand the potential of process drama to overcome the reluctance of students to engage with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters, the author created a workshop that directly addresses the outcast mentality and the marginalization of LGBT youth in schools. Here, the author investigates the underlying…

Objective: The current study used path analysis to examine potential mechanisms through which experiences of discrimination influence depressive and social anxiety symptoms. Method: The sample included 218 lesbians and 249 gay men (total N = 467) who participated in an online survey about minority stress and mental health. The proposed model…

Research shows that introductory courses in college provide an opportunity to invoke transformative learning, enhance students' ability to take the role of the "other," and encourage an authentic learning experience (Mezirow 1997). Few studies, however, have examined transformative approaches wherein students examine heterosexist ideologies. This…

Sexual harassment has long been an unfortunate part of the climate in middle and high schools in the United States. Often considered a kind of bullying, sexual harassment by definition involves sex and gender and therefore warrants separate attention. The legal definition of sexual harassment also differentiates it from bullying. Based on a…

The purpose of this attitudinal study is to investigate the role that social studies methods courses in Florida play in examining controversial issues with their pre-service teachers. Five research questions established the parameters for the investigation of pre-service teachers' attitudes toward the use of controversial issues through the…

This study explored the needs and preferences of older gay and lesbian adults regarding their care in later life. Using a phenomenological case study approach, 15 participants were interviewed regarding their anticipated practical needs, including housing and finances, and their psychological needs, such as support and quality of life. Fearing…

In the wake of institutionalized homophobia afflicting public schools, the nation faces a unique opportunity to acknowledge and transform the assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual and gender-conforming. In this article, the author examines how people, as a nation, can reform schools to be more inclusive of diverse student…

With an ever growing diverse population and access to new technologies, it is no revelation that education is undergoing a significant transformation in the twenty-first century. What remains a struggle is equipping students to meet modern expectations while trying to provide a platform for learning that does not perpetuate the same inequalities…

Three themes found across the reactions to the Major Contribution are discussed: agreement on the destructive nature of internalized heterosexism; the importance of focusing on resilience and other strengths shown by lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals that enable them to be healthy in the face of oppression; and the need for further research…

As LGBTQ issues gain prominence in political and social arenas directly related to social studies teaching, the field of social studies can no longer remain silent. The author argues that we need to move beyond marginal programs and an emphasis on anti-bullying measures to examine the heteronormative structures that school students in sexuality.…