Teaching Gay Tolerance in Schools

This past weekend nearly 1,000 mourners gathered outside of Green Junior High School where 14-year-old Lawrence King was killed on February 12 by 15-year-old classmate Brandon McInerney.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the crowd sang John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance" while carrying signs with slogans such as "Gay Pride" and "Support Love and Tolerance."

Reports indicate that King was harassed for being openly gay at school. Brandon McInerney is charged with first degree murder and a hate crime. He will be tried as an adult. California Assemblyman Mike Eng is set to introduce legislation making it mandatory for California Public Schools to provide classes on diversity and tolerance.

The legislation is a much needed step towards achieving more gay tolerance in schools. Middle and high school years are some of the most impressionable, and also most traumatic, times for many LGBT students. According to a 2005 Harris Interactive online poll titled "From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers," LGBT students are three times as likely as non-LGBT students to say that they do not feel safe at school. 65% (or two-thirds) of the 3,400 students surveyed reported that they have been verbally or physically harassed or assaulted during that past school year. The most common reason for harassment was a student’s appearance or body size. The next most common was perceived sexual orientation.

Teachers and educators can play an integral role in creating a safer learning environment for LGBT students and teens. Follow these steps to learn what you can do this school year and beyond to help your LGBT students: Teaching Gay Tolerance in Schools.