Rob Darrow, Ed.D.
Director of Research Safe Schools Project
Santa Cruz County.
PH 487, CSUMB. September 2017
Rob’s Wiki:
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
Creating Safe and Inclusive
Spaces for
LGBTQ Students
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Information
Please get out a computer or phone to use
for a game we will use in a bit.
All information about this presentation can
be found on my wiki.
Rob’s Wiki:
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
This is a Safe Space
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Who am I? Who are you?
What is my identity?
What is your identity?
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
My Lens Today
Strategies that make schools safe,
inclusive and affirming ? (Especially
for LGBTQ Youth)
Syllabus Outcome #5:” Demonstrate
proficiency in employing effective
educational strategies to teach sexuality
education”
Current laws
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
A little history:
LGBTQ Terms and Year First Used
L = Lesbian (1732)
G = Gay (1955)
B = Bisexual (1960)
T = Transgender (1990)
Q = Queer / Questioning (1894, 1990)
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What causes schools to be
safe and inclusive?
Safe Schools Research Brief 14
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Time for a Game
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Why this matters:
A Few Stories
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Frank Kameny
1925 – Born in NY
1941 – Joined Army
1956 – Harvard: Doctorate
in Astronomy
1957 – Hired by U.S. Army
Map Service – Produced
maps for U.S. military
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Frank Kameny
1953: President Eisenhower signs
Executive Order 10450.
“Immoral and sexual perversion
were a security risk – sexual
deviants” (In place until 1975).
1957: Kameny released from
government service
1960: Files lawsuit. Supreme Court
denies claim. First civil rights claim
based on sexual orientation
1960: Forms Mattachine Society in
Washington DC to advocate for
gay people.
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Frank
Kameny
1965: First of many protests at the White House
1973: Lobbies American Psychological Association to remove gay/lesbian as a disease.
2010: Present at the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” signed by President Obama
2011: Dies at age 86
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
David Schroer
1959: Born in Chicago
1979: Joins the military Special Forces Commander
Haiti Special Forces Commander
Post 911 Coordinated Secret Counterterrorism Unit in Pentagon
Briefed VP Dick Cheney on secret missions
2004: Retires from Military
2005: Applies for job with Library of Congress. Job Offered.
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Diane Schroer
Shares that she is transitioning to Diane
(Transgender male to female).
Library of Congress rescinds job offer.
2005 – Files employment lawsuit – Title VII
(Schroer v. Billington – Library of Congress)
2008 – U.S. District Court – Discrimination and
$500,000 awarded
Works in Pentagon advising transgender affairs
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Ronin Shimizu
2nd Grade: Joins Cub Scouts
4th Grade: Became a cheerleader – Vista Junior Eagles Cheer Team
Enjoyed art and fashion – made his own clothes
• 2002: Born in Folsom, Ca
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Ronin Shimizu
2008: Began being bullied and taunted with: “gay,” “girly” and “a fag,”
2008-2012: Moved to different schools to escape the bullying
2012: Awoke every day worried about who would pick on him.
2014: Removed from school, placed on Independent Study program
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Ronin Shimizu
2014 (December):
Took his own life (Age 12)
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A few Stats
20% of homeless youth are LGBT youth.
63% of LGBT students in California report
being harassed because of their sexual
orientation or gender expression (2015,
GLSEN)
But, very few of them reported
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
A few other Stats
More than 30% of all students reported being
bullied or harassed in California
(Ca Healthy Kids Survey, 2013)
16% of districts reported that they taught students
that using condoms is not an effective way to
prevent pregnancy or STDs/HIV (Bixby Center for
Reproductive Health Survey. 2011).
30% of new HIV infections occur in people ages
15-24 (County of Santa Cruz Health Service
Agency Statistics website, 2016).
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
5 Variables that impact Safe and
Affirming Schools…
Especially for LGBTQ Youth
1. Administrative leaders
policies and actions that create a culture of
acceptance and inclusiveness
2. Teacher and Curriculum leaders
LGBT history integrated into various courses,
school library books, inclusive sex education
Darrow, R. (2015). Implementation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) Inclusive Policies and Curriculum in California School
Districts and Recommendations for Creating Safe School Environments.
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
5 Variables that impact Safe and
Affirming Schools…
Especially for LGBTQ Youth
3. Student leaders
Gay straight alliances, yearly supportive events
e.g. National Coming Out Day or Day of
Silence
4. Health leaders
HIV prevention / Sex Education
5. Mental health leaders
ongoing programs to promote wellness and
reduce bullying, sexual assault and suicide
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Handout: Related Laws
2016 – Suicide Prevention Policies in
Schools
2015 – California Healthy Youth Act: Sex
Ed and HIV education must be inclusive.
2013 –School Success and Opportunity
Act: Transgender youth
2011 –Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and
Respectful (FAIR) Act. LGBT history in
curriculum.
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The Bottom Line
We want all students to be
successful in school – to be engaged
and happy – and to be college and
career ready.
If school is safe and affirming for
LGBTQ students – it will be safe and
affirming for all students.
More cost effective when students
graduate from high school
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LGBTQ Task Force
Santa Cruz County
Student Panel
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LGBTQ Student Comments
Important to have staff and teachers talk
about how to support LGBTQ students.
Use pronouns and/or ask students which
pronouns they use.
Use more inclusive language in the
classroom
Helpful to have a “gender transition plan”
for students
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Important that LGBTQ people are talked
about across the curriculum – literature,
history, Sex Ed – even in math, teachers
could talk about gay mathematicians.
How is a gay boy or lesbian girl supposed
to learn about gay or lesbian sex if it is not
talked about during sex education class?
LGBTQ Student Comments
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Coming out is a personal decision and if a
student wants to come out at whatever age,
then support him/her, they/them in that
process.
Most literature and poems and short stories
taught in schools are about white, straight,
heterosexual love stories – there must be
some literature that includes queer love
stories that could be included.
LGBTQ Student Comments
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Curriculum as a Mirror / Window
Think about how
school curriculum is
a mirror (reflecting
who you are) and a
window (looking at
others’ experiences)
Share your ideas
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A little history:
History Curriculum in Ca
1998: New Ca History Standards – first state to
adopt such standards. New textbooks.
2010: Common Core Adopted.
2011: Fair Education Act Passed. Added Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans to the
curriculum – especially related to history.
2016: New State History Framework
2017: K-8 History Textbook Adoptions
(State Board vote in Nov. 2017)
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Cultural Sensitivity
Latinx (gender inclusive term)
African American
Asian
Civil Rights
Women
Gay and Lesbian
Transgender
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What can you do now to
create safe spaces for
students now or in future?
As public health professionals.
What can you do now?
What can you do in the future?
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6 Ways to Be Proactive
Power of presence. Visit a GSA in
your county and ask them to share
with you if they feel safe.
Put a rainbow flag or safe space
symbol in your room or office
Participate in national coming out day
(Oct) or day of silence (April).
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Ways to Be Proactive
Prepare how to react to bullying or
harassment among students or adults.
Participate or implement task forces
or networks to promote inclusivity,
safety and CSE.
Promote safe schools every day…in
your words and in your actions
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Deficit Based vs. Asset Based
Practice asset based practices and
beliefs vs. Deficit based.
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Ideas from Santa Cruz County
LGBTQ Task Force – Countywide
School District LGBTQ Task Force
Website resources for LGBTQ families
Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards
Safe Schools Project – reactive and
proactive (curriculum integration)
Organization: The Diversity Center in
Santa Cruz
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Equality Schools Indexes
Campus Pride Index:
https://www.campusprideindex.org/
Equality California – Safe and Supportive
School Quality Index (To be distributed
for the first time at end of September to
selected unified districts)
http://www.eqca.org/bay-area-reporter-
political-notebook-eqca-to-grade-ca-
public-schools-on-lgbt-policies/
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Further Reading
Santa Cruz Diversity Center
Safe Schools Project
CSUMB
State Organizations
Resources
Rob’s Wiki:
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
PH487.CSMB. Sept. 2017.
Contact Info
Rob’s Wiki:
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com