Get the Facts

California Research Briefs

Harassment and Discrimination in School

Stories from students, parents, teachers, administrators, researchers and community leaders from the October 3, 2002 public hearing of the California State Senate Select Committee on School Safety. The hearing was entitled “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Discrimination, and School Safety.” – find more info at http://www.casafeschools.org/hearing-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-discrimination-school-safety/

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays fact sheet Schools and Youth: Know Your Facts – read more at pflag.org

National Mental Health Association Back to School Fact Sheet: Bullying in Schools – read details at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/bullying-and-gay-youth

Safe Place to Learn

The Safe Place to Learn report was released in January 2004 by the California Safe Schools Coalition and the 4-H Center for Youth Development at UC Davis. The largest ever study of harassment in schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity shows the problem is widespread, dangerous and preventable.

Read the Safe Place to Learn report press release.

Read the full Safe Place to Learn report or the Summary Fact Sheet.

Read media coverage of the Safe Place to Learn report.

Join the California Safe Schools Coalition to hear about future research!

National Research

GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey finds “a direct relationship between in-school victimization, grade-point averages (GPAs) and the college aspirations of LGBT students.” Learn more at http://www.glsen.org/

Human Rights Watch report Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools – read the article at https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/uslgbt/

Washington Safe Schools Coalition report 83,000 Youth: Selected Findings of Eight Population-Based Studies – read the report at http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/83000youth.pdf

National Mental Health Association Anti-Gay Bullying Survey Results – read the article at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/bullying-and-gay-youth

Research from Outside of California

The Bullying Report: How are Washington State Schools Doing? This report of the Safe Schools Coalition of Washington and the Washington State PTA surveyed school districts to document the extent of implementation of the state’s Anti-Bullying Act. The law took effect in January 2003 and covers bias-motivated harassment, including harassment based on sexual orientation and gender. Read the report at http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/bullyreport/index.html

Washington Safe Schools Coalition report They Don’t Even Know Me: Understanding Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in Schools – read this report at http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/theydontevenknowme.pdf

The Basics: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

American Psychological Association: Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel – http://apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts.aspx

National Mental Health Association: “What Does Gay Mean?” How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice – http://www.ctparenting.com/_files_/whatDoesGayMeanbrocure[1][1].pdf

Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: Commonly Asked Questions and Answers – https://www.pflag.org/