TOPIC: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Issues

The following represents a sample of information to get you started and is not meant to be exhaustive.
(Note: Clicking on the following links causes a new window to be opened. To return to this window, close the newly opened one.)

Center Developed Resources and Tools

Technical Assistance Sampler:

• Sexual Minority Students

Facts/Studies

• Academic Performance and College Aspirations Suffer When Harassment Goes Unchecked
• Bibliography of Basic Resources for Counselors Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Clients
• GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey Sheds New Light on Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Students
• Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth
• Report on the NEA Task Force on Sexual Orientation
• "School Counselors and Sexual Minority Students"

General

• American Psychological Association Online: Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
• Bibliography of LGBT Themed Books and Videos for Youth
• Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Orientation
• Protection of  Les/Gay Students
• Safe Zone Projects
• Services for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth and their Families
• Talking About Respect: A+ Messages for Those Working to Create Safe Schools for lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth
• What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice

Guides, Programs, and Recommendations

• 1st Consensus Guidelines for Public Schools Regarding Issues of Sexual Orientation
• Creating Safe Schools for Lesbian and Gay Students: A Resource Guide for School Staff
• Exemplary and Promising Gender Equity Programs
• Gay/Straight Alliances: A Student Guide
• Healthy LGB Students Project (APA)
• Issue Guide on Gay Rights
• No Longer Alone: A Resource Manual for Rural Sexual Minority Youth and the Adults who Serve Them
• Recommendations on the Support and Safety of Gay and Lesbian Students (Massachusetts Board of Education)
• Ten Things Educators Can Do...

Legal Ethical Issues

• Dealing with Legal Matters Surrounding Students' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
• Discrimination and Harassment Policies in School
• Ethical Standards for School Counselors (American School Counselor Association)
• Project 10: Laws, Policies, and Model Training for Staff Development

Schools

• Gay Adolescents in Catholic Schools
• Gay Adolescents in Catholic Schools Part II: Guidelines for Providing a Safe, Supportive Environment
• Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth: Facing Challenges, Building Resilience
• Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools
• Learning About Sexual Diversity at School. What is Age Appropriate?
• It's Elementary, Talking about Gay Issues in School
• Not Round Here: Affirming Diversity, Challenging Homophobia - a Rural Services Providers Training
• Report Finds Harassment and Discrimination for LGBT Students in NYC Schools
• Safe Schools for Everyone: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,and Transgendered Students
• School Counselors' Role in Providing Support
• Ten Steps Towards Starting a GSA in a Public School

Related Agencies and Websites

• Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling
• Blackboard Online--LGBT Career Resources
• Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere
• Day of Silence
• Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
• Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network
• Gay-Straight Alliance Network
• Health Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Student Project
• Human Rights Campaign
• Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
• P.E.R.S.O.N. Project
• The Point Foundation--Scholarships for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Students
• Project 10
• Sexual Orientation: Science, Education, and Policy
• Stopping Anti-Gay Abuse of Students in Public Schools: A Legal Perspective
• Trans-Youth Links

Relevant Publications That Can Be Obtained Through Libraries

• A lesbian/straight team approach to changing attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. Liddle, B. J., Stowe, A. M. (2002). Journal of Lesbian Studies, 6, 99-108
• Bound and gagged: Sexual silences, gender conformity and the gay male teacher. Rofes, E. (2000).Sexualities, 3, 439-462
• Demographics of the gay and lesbian population in the United States. Black, D., Gates, G., Sanders, S. G. & Taylor, L. (2000). Demography, 37, 139-154.
• How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School and in the Community. Del Castillo, F. (2003). Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 24, 381
• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities and youth: Psychological perspectives. D'Augelli, A. R. (ED); Patterson, C. J. (ED). (2001). London, Oxford University Press.
• Naming the "outsider within": Homophobic pejoratives and the verbal abuse of lesbian, gay and bisexual high-school pupils. Thurlow, C. (2001). Journal of Adolescence. Special Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth, 24, 25-38
• Psychological perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual experiences (2nd ed.). Garnets, L. D. (ED); Kimmel, D. C. (ED). (2003). New York, NY, US: Columbia University Press.
• Sexual Orientation and Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents and Young Adults/ Silenzio, V.M; Pena J.B; Duberstein P.R; Cerel J; Knox K. L. (2007). American Journal of Public Health.
• Social Justice, Democratic Education and the Silencing of Words that Wound. Applebaum, B. (2003). Journal of Moral Education, 32, 151-162
• Substance abuse among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning adolescents. Jordan, K. M. (2000). School Psychology Review. Special Mini-Series: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, and questioning youths, 29, 201-206
• Victim experiences in hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Herek, G. M; Cogan, J. C; Gillis, J. R. (2002). Journal of Social Issues, 58, 319-339

We hope these resources met your needs. If not, feel free to contact us for further assistance. For additional resources related to this topic, use our search page to find people, organizations, websites and documents.  You may also go to our technical assistance page for more specific technical assistance requests.

If you haven't done so, you may want to contact our sister center, the Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

If our website has been helpful, we are pleased and encourage you to use our site or contact our Center in the future.  At the same time, you can do your own technical assistance with "The fine Art of Fishing" which we have developed as an aid for do-it-yourself technical assistance.