LGBTQ SAFE

Making Schools LGBTQ SAFE

One of the most cited ways educators are making their schools more inclusive is through the use of the acronym SM. This stands for safe school, and is used to describe a wide range of activities. Although this acronym has been around for quite some time, it is only recently being taken seriously as a way to make schools more welcoming to LGBTQ students.

The first "safe" zone was created in the 1990s. These were usually stickers placed on doors. Educators began to use the term to emphasize their commitment to  LGBTQ SAFE  issues, and to let the student know that they were not alone. However, only one-fourth of students reported seeing these stickers in their schools.

Since then, efforts have been made in a variety of communities. Several organizations, such as the Orlando Police Department (OPD), have developed a liaison officer dedicated to fostering a safe environment for residents of the LGBTQ community. Other cities and states have enacted laws to protect LGBTQ students. While the laws in these places are not as strict as those in New York or Massachusetts, they still have a significant impact on how LGBTQ students feel in school.

A Safe Zone is a program that is certified by an organization to provide a safe and inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQ community. Such certification requires that a facility, community organization, or healthcare provider have gone through a series of trainings. Some of the requisites are non-gendered bathrooms, LGBTQ-friendly procedures, and cultural competence training.

In addition to these, educators should strive to create an environment that demonstrates respect for the diverse identities of their students. They should do this in many aspects of their schools' life. From the use of gender neutral pronouns to creating a campus culture that values LGBTQ contributions, educators can make their schools more accepting and safe for their students.

Educators have found that the best "safe" zone is not necessarily a building with a name tag. Instead, it may be a tacit agreement that safe is the norm in their schools. As with any other endeavor, educators can be successful by working with allies. Allies are people who support the LGBTQ community and can help build an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for their fellow members.

For example, the first Safe Zone in Newport County is the Women's Resource Center. There are also a number of universities that offer Safe Zone trainings.

For example, the Feinberg School of Medicine's Department of Medical Education and Gender and Sexuality Curriculum Taskforce have updated the LGBT Safe Space Training. Similarly, the Orlando Police Department's Safe Place Initiative has decals that are placed on local businesses to demonstrate their commitment to safety for the LGBTQ community.