Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Colleagues

As colleges return for the fall semester, supporting our vulnerable students and colleagues is imperative to protecting the teaching and learning environment. Understanding the unique challenges LGBTQ+ students face, in particular, enables educators to be better positioned to move forward with empathy, compassion, and support. For example, it is important to keep in mind that:

• One in three (33%) LGBTQ college students seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 7% reported a suicide attempt in the past year.
• Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+.
• One third of LGBTQ+ people report that their mental health was not good all or most of the time they were in college.
• Intersecting identities can compound issues faced by students. For example, students who are undocumented and identify as LGBTQ+ face persisting oppressive social states from their identities.

Providing support for students shouldn’t be difficult. Each California Community College has an LGBTQ+ liaison that CCA members can reach out to. From checking on what services colleges offer, to making a more visibly welcoming campus, inclusion doesn’t have to be difficult. But it can be life changing.

Also, our national and state unions, NEA and CTA have great resources for supporting our LGBTQ+ and immigrant students on campus. Look to our CTA website for tips on creating inclusive classrooms for LGBTQ+ students, as well as the Home is Here campaign for supporting immigrant students. Both resources contain tips for supporting students amidst the current escalating threats, as well as legal rights you have as an educator and an employee.

As your CCA LGBTQ+ South Director At-Large, I am here to help with the work of supporting our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues. Realizing the deep impact we have on our students’ and colleagues’ lives, let’s work to make this academic year one of inclusion and support.