Helping GLBTQ students : a guide for teachers and counselors : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

In 1972, a series of educational amendments were passed that currently govern the manner in which schools regard students and how student issues are handled. One of these, Title IX, requires schools to provide students with a learning environment in which they can achieve their full potential without danger to their physical or emotional selves. This includes protecting students from sexually hostile environments regardless of the genders of both the oppressed and the oppressors. Within the last ten years, numerous lawsuits have been filed against schools corporations and principals due to failure to provide this level of protection. Many of these lawsuits have been filed by homosexual students who have been denied equal protection from sexual harassment due to the nature of the harassment and the genders of offenders. Many schools seem unable to find a way to begin providing supportive environments for homosexual students. In an effort to help these schools begin helping this minority group of students, I have assembled a collection of common questions about homosexuality with answers, a section of how to specifically help homosexual students, and a list of resources (both local and national) to help schools find more information about homosexuality and helping homosexual students. I have also included a list of many famous homosexuals throughout history.