Do you know how many people in your jurisdiction identify as members of the LGBTQ community? Are they visible to you and your colleagues? Unfortunately, even today, in many parts of the United States, LGBTQ people live in fear of violence, rejection, and ridicule from law enforcement and other sources. This fear prevents trust from being built, which is essential for any community. GLSEN has made great strides in promoting inclusive schools at all levels of education in the United States. This has led to an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in K-12 education.
To achieve this, it is important to establish an inclusive vision, monitor the school climate, adopt comprehensive policies against discrimination and harassment, and create restorative disciplinary approaches. California's Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act (FAIR) is a great example of this. It ensures that the historical contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are accurately and fairly described in teaching materials by adding LGBT people to the existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups that are already included in the state's inclusive education requirements. The riots between the police and the LGBTQ community that occurred in the 1960s were a result of decades of violence and a growing distrust of law enforcement.
It is essential to create an atmosphere where members of the LGBT community feel safe to talk openly about their identity. In Baltimore City public schools, LGBTQ students benefit from the district's recognition for the effectiveness of restorative practices and other progressive disciplinary measures that build positive relationships. It is also important to make sure that district and school policies are designed and implemented to support transgender and gender-non-conforming students, who face even more hostile school climates than other students in the LGBTQ community. In 1962, the San Francisco Police Department became the first agency to appoint a representative of the department for the LGBTQ community.
In order to increase visibility and representation for members of the LGBT community in Indianapolis, it is essential to create an environment where they feel safe to talk openly about their identity. This can be accomplished by implementing comprehensive policies against discrimination and harassment, creating restorative disciplinary approaches, monitoring school climate, and appointing a representative of the department for the LGBTQ community. It is also important to make sure that district and school policies are designed and implemented to support transgender and gender-non-conforming students. Creating a safe space for members of the LGBT community is essential for building trust between them and law enforcement.
This can be done by implementing comprehensive policies against discrimination and harassment, creating restorative disciplinary approaches, monitoring school climate, appointing a representative of the department for the LGBTQ community, and making sure that district and school policies are designed to support transgender and gender-non-conforming students. By doing so, we can ensure that members of the LGBT community feel safe to talk openly about their identity without fear of violence or ridicule.
