User:Madalynbr/Anti-LGBT curriculum laws in the United States

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Policies in place, such as Anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws, can make students feel unsafe in their learning environments. Many students experience bullying throughout their years in elementary, middle, and high schools. In fact, in 2011, sixty percent of students did not report their bullying incidents ₄₈. In addition, LGBTQ+ students are five times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ identifying classmates ₄₈. LGBTQ+ identifying students not only have to face bullying, but they lack inclusivity in school. Not only does bullying occur more often for these students, but they are even left out of school activities because of how they identify. Some schools around the country refuse to allow transgender students access to bathroom facilities and lockerooms. They refuse to recognize the trans students’ gender identity, but instead cannot look past the students’ assigned gender at birth. Not only is this discriminatory, but it is cruel. The refusal of restroom services for a student merely because they are transgender can be taken as yet another blow to the LGBTQ+ community. How can students feel safe in their schools if they are refused restroom services and locker room usage? Not only do students face discrimination for restroom, but also in school promoted athletics. They are often prohibited from participating with their peers in school athletics because of their gender identity. For example, a trans woman may be refused a position on the women’s soccer team merely because she is transgender. Though she may be talented, she is still refused a spot on the team.

Not only do LGBTQ+ students face scrutiny, but LGBTQ+ identifying educators can also face scrutiny as well. In 2017, a teacher in Texas was suspended for speaking about her wife in her classroom₄₈. Many other teachers have faced discrimination for their personal lives as well. In private Catholic schools, teachers can be fired for being part of the LGBTQ+ community. The “Don’t Say Gay” laws prohibit teachers from even saying words related to LGBTQ+ topics. Not only can words such as gay be banned in some states, but anything promoting nonheterosexual relationships such as photographs, movies, and books be banned. In these “Don’t Say Gay” states sexual education classes are prohibited from teaching about safe-sex between same sex couples. Lacking the inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students in sexual education can cause more harm than lawmakers think. Promoting positive sexual health education for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity can teach students preventive measures. These safe-sex practices include regular sexually transmitted infection/disease testing, the importance of the use of barrier methods such as condoms, education about consent, and birth control methods. Excluding students from different backgrounds, such as LGBTQ+ students, can cause damage to not only the students, but also the community. These students have reported feeling like they are “afterthoughts” ₄₈. By promoting inclusivity in schools, LGBTQ+ students and educators can feel that they are equals with their peers.

References

Duchess Harris, & Martha Lundin. (2020). LGBTQ Rights and the Law. Essential Library.