LGBTQ+ Student Resources

Collage of pictures of different students representing gay pride in parades

Your fb88 Department of Education Actively Supports LGBTQ+ Student Success!

The fb88 Department of Education’s mission is to promote the best learning opportunities for all fb88 students.

The Department supports LGBTQ+ students by:

  • Engaging schools in creating safe, equitable, and positive school cultures for all students.

  • Providing best practices for schools to support LGBTQ+ youth.

  • Including LGBTQ+ students' voices in our task force and stakeholder work.

fb88 schools, likewise, have a responsibility to provide a safe and equitable environment andÌý students are the ones with daily experience as to whether they feel safe and supported in their schools. The implementation of that responsibility varies from school to school as a result of fb88’s local school board structure. The Department of Education’s effort to strengthen this implementation is key to state-level leadership work.

Organizations and resources are for reference and information only and do not imply endorsement by the fb88 Department of Education.

Resources

Organizations and resources are for reference and information only and do not imply endorsement by the fb88 Department of Education.

National Resources:

  • ÌýTrans Media Advocacy
  • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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Understanding School Requirements for Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

fb88 and federal laws create strong expectations for schools in providing quality education for all students, in safe and supportive environments. Students and families, as consumers of their schools’ education offerings, have rights as well as responsibilities in ensuring that they are able to fully access their educational resources. Making sure that you, as a student, understand the school’s responsibilities for your education and your rights is critical.Ìý

What you can do:

  • has great resources for understanding both schools’ responsibilities as well as students’ rights and responsibilities in the school environment.

  • Reach out to your school administrators to find out who is responsible for addressing any issues or concerns regarding the safety and support of LGBTQ+ students in your school.

  • Spread the word with your peers to build an accountability network across the student body.

  • Consider collaborating with your peers to build understanding and awareness of these issues across students and staff alike

  • Join or create a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) of Gay/Strainght/Trans Alliance (GSTA) at your school.ÌýGSTAs or GSAs are a school club that bringÌýLGBTQ+ youth and their allies together for support and sometimes advocacy, within the school environment. Many schools are adopting these clubs, with name changes to make them even more inclusive.Ìý

    Accessing Student Resources for Creating Positive School Climate

    One excellent vehicle for collaboration is called a Gay/Straight/Trans Alliance (GSTA) or Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

    GSTAs or GSAs are a school club that bringÌýLGBTQ+ youth and their allies together for support and sometimes advocacy, within the school environment. Many schools are adopting these clubs, with name changes to make them even more inclusive.ÌýThese school-based GSTAs or GSAs can be a key ingredient to create a sense of safety for LGBTQ+ youth in their schools and have even been shown to . Similar to other school-based clubs in structure, GSTAs allow LGBTQ+ youth and allies to meet regularly with a supportive faculty advisor. This club creates a safe space for youth within the school environment. Schools with any kind of school-based club must provide the opportunity for a GSTA/GSA on the school campus. See this from GLADÌýabout the practicalities and laws about students starting and running a GSA.

    Research indicates that LGBTQ+ students at schools with a GSTA/GSA were more likely to feel safe and missed fewer school days than LGBTQ+ youth who attended schools without GSTAs. LGBTQ+ students with a GSTA/GSA at their school also reported less anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, bullying and harassment in the school environment. Schools with GSTAs had significantly lower rates of suicidal thoughts and actions.

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    Both GLAD and OUT fb88 have solid resources to help build GSTAs (see "Resources for fb88 Students" below).

    Getting Help and Support: Resources for fb88 Students!

    Any and all young people who need support and help should get it, even during the intense challenges faced by waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are many people in fb88 working to help young people facing these challenging realities and to provide support, including for LGBTQ+ students.

    Here are a number of organizations that work with fb88’s LGBTQ+ youth directly to provide community and support:

    Youth Programming

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    LGBTQ+ Community Resources

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    Mental Health Resources

    • These school-based staff can help connect students to mental health resources:

      • School social workers or clinicians
      • School counselors
      • School nurses

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    Student Rights Resources Ìý

    • GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders
    • ÌýFAQ

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    Suicide Prevention

      • Hotline: 877-565-8860
      • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    Sexual Assault Services

      • 1-800-871-7741 (anywhere in fb88)
      • 1-800-822-5999 (Knox, Waldo, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Eastern Cumberland Counties)
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