Supporting Understanding the Queer Youth Experience Nate Monson

Supporting & Understanding the Queer Youth Experience Nate Monson Executive Director, Iowa Safe Schools nate. monson@iowasafeschools. org · www. iowasafeschools. org

Ground Rules • Safe Space • Respect • Use I Statements • Avoid hypotheticals • Take care of self • Ask questions

LGBTQ Students of Color • 80% reported being verbally harassed in school • 45% of Latino/a students experienced physical violence in school because of their sexual orientation • 51% of African-American students were commonly harassed in school because of their race Shared Differences: The Experiences of LGBT Students of Color in Our Nation’s Schools, GLSEN, 2009

LGBTQ Students of Color I had students throw paper balls at me or call me a faggot or say pretty homophobic things…I’ve also been attacked or had my share of hate crimes for just being open about my sexuality. (male, African American, 12 th grade) You could very well on any day hear someone yelling across the hall, “fag, ” etc. I’ve heard it before…it’s hurtful because it’s just not something that you say. And it’s just generally hurtful. And I know that I’ll just be walking in a hallway, and someone will just say under their breath with a group of friends, “fag”…and hearing things like that in my school – it kind of brings me down almost. It kind of negates any hope that I have for our school to be a better place. (male, Latino, 10 th grade) Shared Differences: The Experiences of LGBT Students of Color in Our Nation’s Schools, GLSEN, 2009

Trans* Students • 89% of trans* students reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation • 53% of trans* students reported being physically harassed because of their gender expression • 54% of trans* students who were victimized in school did not report the events to school authorities • 33% who did report believe that staff addressed the situation effectively Harsh Realities: The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation’s Schools, GLSEN, 2009

Elementary LGBTQ Issues • 51% of students report other students making comments like “retard” sometimes, often, or all of the time • 45% report comments like that’s so gay or you’re so gay from other kids at school sometimes, often, or all of the time • 26% of students report hearing other students make comments like fag or lesbo at least sometimes • 83% of teachers agree that teachers and other school personnel have an obligation to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for students who do not conform to traditional gender norms GLSEN and Harris Interactive (2012). Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States, A Survey of Students and Teachers. New York: GLSEN.

School to Prison Pipeline 35. 6% of LGBTQ students had received detention 15. 1% of LGBTQ students had received in-school or out-of-school suspension 39. 8% of LGBTQ students reported experiencing at least one of these forms of discipline 46. 7% of LGBTQ Black/African American students, 44. 1% of LGBTQ Hispanic/Latino students, and 47. 3% of LGBTQ Multiracial students had ever been disciplined at school, compared to 36. 3% of LGBTQ White/European students and 35. 2% of LGBTQ Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander students Nearly half of transgender students (45. 2%) and students with another gender identity, i. e. , those who were not cisgender, but did not identify as transgender or genderqueer (48. 9%), had experienced discipline at school, compared to less than forty percent of genderqueer (39. 1%) and cisgender female (37. 5%) and male (38. 4%) LGBQ students. GLSEN (2016). Educational exclusion: Drop out, push out, and school-to-prison pipeline among LGBTQ youth. New York: GLSEN.

Privilege A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people

Heterosexual Privilege • As a heterosexual, I do not have to fear being called named because I am holding my significant other’s hand in public. • As a heterosexual, I do not fear violence against me because of my sexual orientation.

Cisgender Privilege • As someone who is cisgender, I do not think twice about which restroom to use because of my gender identity. • As someone who is cisgender, I do not have groups of individuals attacking my identity and using it for harmful purposes.

Resources • The Trevor Project www. thetrevorproject. org 1 -866 -488 -7386 • Trans Lifeline www. translifeline. org 1 -877 -565 -8860 • Iowa GSA Network becky@iowasafeschools. org • Iowa Safe Schools www. iowasafeschools. org www. safeschoolsacademy. org

Events Trans Education Conference November 30 th , 2016 Register: www. iowasafeschools. org 12 th Annual Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth April 3 rd & 4 th , 2017

• Nate Monson Contact Info nate. monson@iowasafeschools. org • Becky Smith Iowa GSA Network becky. smith@iowasafeschools. org • Joshua Merritt LGBTQ Youth Advocate joshua. Merritt@iowasafeschools. org