The Orange County chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) recently launched the Safe Space Campaign in Long Beach to promote visible support for LGBT students in schools. The national campaign aims to place a Safe Space Kit in every public and private middle and high school in the United States.
The Safe Space Kit provides a program for action that school staff can take to create a positive learning environment for every child. Each kit contains 10 Safe Space Stickers, two posters and a 42-page Guide to Being an Ally to LGBT Students that gives concrete strategies for supporting those students, including how to educate about anti-LGBT bias and teaching respect for all.
“The Orange County GLSEN chapter is proud to collaborate with The Center Long Beach to support this critical effort to let LGBT students know that they are not alone,” said GLSEN Board Member Dan Pitre. “LGBT students need to know now more than ever that they have adult allies in their schools who are ready and happy to support them. At a cost of $20 per kit, everyone can support this effort. Each of us can make a real difference.”
The Long Beach Unified School Board has officially endorsed the adoption of the GLSEN Safe Space Kit for use in the district’s efforts to combat bullying. GLSEN Orange County and The Center Long Beach are presently working with the Long Beach Unified School District on the delivery of the Safe Space Kit.
“Like many cities across the nation, Long Beach LGBTQ students need further support in addressing issues relating to school bullying and acceptance,” said Kyle Bullock, Youth Program manager at The Center. “The GLSEN Safe Space Kit is specifically designed to instruct teachers and school administrators on how to be allies to LGTBTQ youth and stresses the importance of creating safe spaces for all students on their campuses. I am thrilled that the Long Beach Unified School Board is committed to helping their LGBT students.”
The Safe Space sticker at the heart of the kit has long been one of GLSEN’s most popular resources. By placing a sticker in their classroom or office, members of a school’s faculty or staff can let students know that they have support and are in a safe space with respect to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. Research demonstrates that LGBT students who can identify supportive adults in their school are less likely to feel unsafe at school, are more likely to plan to graduate and go on to college, and are more likely to feel connected to the school community.
“Every student deserves a safe space in school,” said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard. “The single most important line of defense for young people in crisis at school is a network of visibly supportive adults. I am so grateful to GLSEN Orange County and The Center Long Beach for launching the Safe Space Campaign and to the Long Beach community for responding in support of this critical initiative.”
Nearly nine out of 10 LGBT students experience some form of harassment in school each year because of their sexual orientation. About half report being physically harassed and almost a quarter report being physically assaulted. Three out of five LGBT students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.
To order a Safe Space Kit and for more information, visit SafeSpaceKit.com .
More Information
GLSEN.org
Source: GLSEN
