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Quality instruction can only begin when students feel safe in their classrooms. This sense of s to extend to all students and all dimensions of diversity. For members of the LGBTQ community, creating safe spaces in schools is a national imperative. According to recent figures, 71.3 percent of our nation's youth reported hearing homophobic slurs throughout their educational experiences.
In 2011, 38.3 percent of LGBTQ youth were physically harassed (e.g., pushed or shoved) in the previous year because of their sexual orientation and 27.1 percent because of their gender expression (Kosciw, Greytak, Bartkiewicz, Boesen, & Palmer, 2011). High school youth who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual are three times more likely to attempt suicide as their straight peers (Macgillivray, 2000). Nearly half of transgender youth have seriously considered suicide; and, sadly, one-fourth actually attempted to do so (Grossman & D'Augelli, 2007). While the nation as a whole is on a trajectory of more accepting attitudes toward persons who identify as LGBTQ, there are still far too many young adolescents who feel fearful, hopeless, and rejected. In essence, they feel unsafe.
The statistics reveal an alarming story. We have an epidemic of hatred in our schools, and classrooms must be transformed into spaces where tolerance and acceptance is taught. We believe literature can be carefully integrated into classrooms and combined with discussions to break apart stereotypes and prejudices; this can help LBGTQ youth feel safer within their classroom environments. In this article, we provide a pathway for teachers to do the important work of creating safe zones for LGBTQ youth. Through literature, effective literacy strategy instruction, and community building, teachers can provide quality instruction that addresses the experiences of LGBTQ youth while promoting tolerance. When done respectfully, we believe this instruction can help lessen the isolation and fear LGBTQ students feel at school. In doing this work, we believe classrooms can transform into safe zones, rather than war zones, for LGBTQ youth.
What Are Safe Zones?
Safe zones are spaces where students feel free to be themselves without fear of reproach or disdain from peers (Henkin, 2011; Ratts et al., 2013). Every classroom should be a safe zone for students, and the best way to promote this positive climate is for teachers to begin the...