Safe School Resources

ACLU Lesbian
& Gay Rights Project
Civil rights organization focusing on LGBT issues.
Resources for students and teachers; model safe schools
and anti-discrimination policies; creating Gay-Straight
Alliances and why schools need to treat them equally.
“Every Student, Every School” focuses on
tools for rural communities and small towns to make
schools safer for LGBT youth.

American Federation
of Teachers (AFT)
National teachers union provides, among other resources,
links to LGBT educational information, history, and
lesson plans; see Human Rights & Community Relations.

Center Y.E.S.
SIGNS
A group of student leaders working to end hate and
homophobia in schools by starting Gay Straight Alliances
and other student groups (a project of the New York
LGBT Community Center’s Youth Enrichment Services
program).

Day
of Silence Project
An international event in which a growing number of
schools participate, designed to raise awareness and
protest the silence faced by LGBT people, and offer
tools with which to end the silence.

The Gay, Lesbian,
Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Works to end anti-gay bigotry by teaching respect
for all in public, private, parochial K-12 schools.
GLSEN’s Resource Center provides several important
guides to help educate and create a safer school climate,
including how to start a Gay Straight Alliance.

Hetrick-Martin
Institute
New York City high school for LGBT youth.

Human Rights
Campaign (HRC)
General information about how to act and legislate
against discrimination toward LGBT people. Provides
information on starting an allies program in local
schools and communities.

Lambda
Legal –

Making
Schools Safe for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered
Students: A Resource Guide

Civil rights litigation organization working to achieve
full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people.
Provides suggestions for changing school policy and
state law to help better protect youth, as well as
steps students and parents can take when a child has
been harassed in school.

National
Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
National legal rights and education organization staffs
a toll-free youth legal information line and provides
resources on building safe school environments, with
a special focus on LGBT youth in sports.

National Education
Association (NEA)

This National professional organization provides a
set of recommendations and resources to enhance programs
designed to help foster an environment of respect
and safety in America’s public schools.

National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
“Transgender Equality” Defines and describes
transgender terms and issues; discusses the ways sexual
orientation and gender identity overlap and differ;
examines the role of gender variance in homophobia
and anti-gay violence; provides information on efforts
to achieve basic legal protections for transgendered
people; and suggests strategies for advancing inclusive
anti-discrimination, safe schools, and hate-crimes
legislation.

Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

“From Our House to the Schoolhouse” campaign
contains information for educators, parents, youth,
and additional resources.

Project
10

Project 10 is a Los Angeles Unified School District
onsite support program for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) youth.

The
Safe Schools Coalition
Offers resources as a starting point for educators,
parents/guardians and youth. Bibliography of resources
to help youth, educators, administrators, and parents
end bullying and create safe school environments for
LGBT youth. Resources such as hotlines for LGBT youth
experiencing harassment.

U.S. Department
of Education
Published guide available on the web called, “Protecting
Students from Harassment and Hate Crimes,” including
model policies that include protections against discrimination
based on sexual orientation.