Grading schools on treatment of gays - Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network will issue ratings of school districts - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 1997

As part of a national evaluation of school district performance on assuring safety and respect for gay and lesbian students and making their institutions more accepting places, 62 chapters of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSTN) will issue report cards. They are designed to recognize district leadership and bring to the public's attention school's failures to prevent discrimination and harassment against homosexuals.

Of America's 55,000,000 students, as many as 97% hear homophobic remarks at school from their peers and 53% hear similar comments from their teachers Nineteen percent of gay and lesbian students suffer physical attacks associated with their sexual orientation. When that occurs, a mere three percent of faculty members will intervene. In all, the typical high school student hears anti-gay slurs as often as 25 times a day. The number of gay and lesbian students who skip school at least once per month is almost identical to the number who face physical abuse from fellow classmates.

These numbers, along with legal action taken by homosexual students against their school systems for failure to protect them from harassment, have brought to light the need for a nationwide advocacy effort to protect homosexual youngsters, estimated at nine percent of the total school population, from such discrimination. With lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth increasingly visible, many school districts now find it necessary to address antigay discrimination, harassment, and violence.

"The Nabozny decision, for the first time, holds school systems accountable for offering equal protection to gay and lesbian students," notes GLSTN executive director Kevin Jennings, referring to 1996's landmark court decision whereby Wisconsin high school student Jamie Nabozny won $900,000 in punitive damages against his school district due to the school's failure to protect him from harassment and physical harm. "The report card initiative will enable us to make fair, objective judgments of schools on this issue and to understand what steps are needed to improve conditions."

The report cards are based on specific and measurable criteria, including whether school policies are in place that protect students and staff from discrimination and harassment; provide staff with workshops and training; stock accurate and age-appropriate information in school libraries, support extracurricular student activities and clubs; and offer an accurate and inclusive curriculum.