Conference participants learn how to make schools safe for all students

What's it like to be a gay teenager on a typical school campus in California?

To find out, teachers attending the CTA Equity and Human Rights Conference in Anaheim recently were asked to write down the name of their best friend, their favorite place to hang out, their closest family member, their favorite possession, and their dream for the future, each on a separate slip of paper. Then watch what happens to them if your sexual orientation is anything other than the norm, said Eric Heins, co-leader of a workshop on "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: Breaking the Silence."

"At your locker, your best friend confronts a rumor that you're gay. You tell him it's true, but ask him not to say anything. He tells everyone," said Heins. "Crumple up the piece of paper with your best friend's name on it and throw it away.

"At your favorite spot to hang out, you are no longer welcome and no one wants anything to do with you. Throw the second piece of paper away.

"You come home from school and tell your favorite family member why you're upset. They say you're crazy and tell the rest of your family. You're told to move out. Throw away paper number three.

"You can't take your favorite possession with you, because you don't know where you're going. Throw away paper number four.

"You can't attend school. So your dreams are destroyed. Throw away the last piece of paper."

The participants sat in stunned silence, imagining their lives as torn and tattered as the papers crumpled before them.

"Students are always calling each other a faggot or saying, 'That's so gay,' even though they might never think of saying, 'That's so Mexican,' " says Sweetwater Education Association member Eric Hagin. "It's sad, because you know many of these kids who are being harassed might be thinking about committing suicide."

The Breaking the Silence workshop was one of many held at CTA's Human Rights Conference, which was attended by more than 600 members. Other workshops covered such subjects as increasing self-esteem, addressing women's issues, closing the achievement gap, preventing bullying and sexual harassment, incorporating religion in the classroom, promoting diversity, reducing racism and averting attacks on public education.

Even though a law enacted four years ago prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in California public schools, 7.5 percent of students continue to report problems, according to a recent study by the California Safe Schools Coalition. The percentage translates into more than 200,000 middle and high school students being harassed every year.

The coalition, which includes CTA, says students who suffer from harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation are:

• More than three times as likely to carry a weapon to school, seriously consider suicide, make a plan for attempting suicide or miss school because they feel unsafe.
• More than twice as likely to report depression, or use methamphetamines or inhalants.
• More likely to have low grades (C's or below), be victims of violence, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, engage in binge drinking or use marijuana.

The coalition also reports that harassment decreases when schools adopt strict policies prohibiting such behavior and when teachers intervene upon hearing homophobic slurs.

Heins, a member of the Pittsburg Education Association, and co-trainer Mary Westphal, a member of the San Bernardino Teachers Association, told participants in the Breaking the Silence workshop that teachers could create a safer school environment with a little effort.

"Address negative incidents," said Westphal. "Teachers hear 'That's so gay' constantly, but the most damaging thing that teachers can do is keep silent. If students say they are being harassed, stand outside in the hallway and watch what is going on as they walk to class."

Teachers can change their language to be more sensitive, said Heins. "Instead of saying, 'When you grow up and have a wife and children...,' it might be better to say, 'When you grow up and have a family...'"

Also, he suggested identifying the positive contributions of gay individuals, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Walt Whitman, in class discussions "so that gay people are seen in a positive light."

Teachers can encourage that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues be addressed in student newspapers and student government. Student clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance can promote a more tolerant attitude on campus.

Some of the things teachers can do to help students cope include:

• Provide a safe place to discuss concerns.
• Thank the student for trusting you and respect confidentiality.
• Use vocabulary that the student uses. Use the term "same-sex feeling" if the student appears uneasy with other terms.
• Be aware of cultural roles that may affect the student.
• Make resources available to students and their families, such as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
• Offer professional development to fellow teachers on ways to help students with gender identity issues. The CTA Human Rights Department has cadre trainers who visit schools upon request. For information, visit CTA's website [www.cta.org].

Richard Andrade, a member of the Alvord Education Association, said one of his students expressed suicidal thoughts after revealing his sexual preference. Uncertain what to do, Andrade reported the incident to an administrator, only to have the student accuse the teacher of betraying him.

"You have to be up front," said Heins. "Say that you will respect confidentiality, but that if you think the student is going to hurt himself, you will have to tell someone."

"Don't try to use therapy if you're not a trained counselor," he added.

Glendale Teachers Association member Alicia Harris said she's had students use religion as a rationale for condemning gay students. "Faith is private and personal, and everyone has a right to his or her faith," said Westphal. "But let students know that no matter what they believe, it's not okay to disrespect someone at school. Let them know it's against the law."

In class, teachers need to be aware that it is permissible to talk about gay issues but not to talk about sexual acts. That kind of discussion is considered part of "family life" and requires parental consent.