Respect for Diversity (Standard 2.3)

How can you as an educator promote an environment of inclusivity for all students but specifically for the LGBTQ+ community? What ideas do you have?

Dear Principal

The Library Learning Commons is a central place universally accessible by all members of our community and takes pride in being a safe and accepting space. Many daily visitors to the library are find solace and a sense of belonging. They have become part of the culture.

LGTBQ youth experience struggles and challenges that can make the growing years uncomfortable and, for some, terrifying. The Library Learning Commons is excited to announce our prelimary plans to become designated as an official ‘Safe Space’ at our school! A Safe Space is a welcoming, supportive and safe environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students (The Safe Space Kit 2009).

According to a 2015 GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) survey, 85% of LGBTQ students reported verbal harassment or discrimination at school; 49% experienced cyber bullying. And 60% of students reported hearing negative remarks about LGTBQ issues or gender expression from faculty and staff (Gaffney 2017).

Why the Library Learning Commons

The library is an entity responsible for raising awareness and educating our community about important topics. An alarming situation in most public schools is the lack of understanding and awareness for the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Bisexual community resulting in a portion of our student body to feel exiled and outed on a daily basis. Often we hear students say something is ‘so gay’ not intending to, but creating a situation where a LGTB student feels put down, put out, inferior, or even at risk. We can be proactive in helping these students feel a sense of belonging and raise awareness to others to build an environment that is more supportive of individual differences.

What is the Safe Space Meant to Achieve?

The number one goal is to increase the happiness and sense of security for all students. This will include both LGTBQ and non LGTBQ by raising awareness, acceptance, and empathy for individual differences. As an ally to LGTBQ under the GLSEN Safe Space program, we will aim to:

• Share background information about the experiences of LGBT students and anti-LGBT bias.
• Effectively support to LGBT students
• Teach students and inform school staff about combating antiLGBT bias and behavior.
• Apply strategies to promote change

Using training from GLSEN and the Safe Space Kit we will establish a central point for supporting conversations, learning and actions in regards to LGTBQ issues.

Please help us take our first steps with your reply indicating any special processes or measures we need to take and if there are other ‘safe spaces’ already in place in our district or community that we should liaison with.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Sincerely

Ms. Librarian