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Enumeration of gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression in non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies provides teachers and school personnel with the tools and protections they need to prevent bullying and intervene when incidents occur. These non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies are critical to address the concerning link between bullying, depression, and suicidal behavior.

Right now, Florida lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students are 5x more likely to attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual peers according to the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

More students continue to self-identify as LGBTQ. In Florida, 24.9% of high school students identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or unsure of their sexual orientation according to the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club that provides a safe place for students to meet, empower each other, advocate for school support, and talk about discuss issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Research has shown that when a school has a GSA, school culture improves, students are more accepting of LGBTQ peers, and LGBTQ victimization decreases.

The Equal Access Act of 1984, requires schools to provide equal access for student-initiated groups and extracurricular clubs of all types. Federal law and decades of jurisprudence in and outside of Florida make clear that schools across Florida cannot prohibit students from creating LGBTQ groups or clubs, commonly known as GSAs, at the middle school or high school level, if they have any non-curricular clubs.

The availability of school resources and support for LGBTQ students is an important dimension of school climate. Key resources that can help promote a safer climate and more positive school experience for students include -- school personnel who are trained in LGBTQ cultural competency, student clubs that address needs for LGBTQ students, and LGBTQ-inclusive classroom materials.

LGBTQ students deserve to see themselves and their families in the books they read and the lessons taught in class. This is essential to building educational environments that are safe and affirming for all students. Recent legislation has negatively impacted the ability of school districts to ensure LGBTQ students and their families are reflected in their education. This includes the Don’t Say LGBTQ laws which bans instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity (HB1557/HB1069), a new law limiting instruction on honest history and tough topics like racism and sexism (HB7), and a law promoting the removal of books with LGBTQ characters (HB1467/HB1069).

Overall, transgender and nonbinary students were more likely than all other students to have negative experiences at school. Transgender students were more likely to have felt unsafe and to experience victimization at school based on their gender expression or gender identity. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 41% of transgender respondents have attempted suicide in their lifetime. These concerns are exacerbated as state lawmakers continue to pass anti-transgender bills. These laws ban transgender females from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, and deny gender-affirming care to transgender youth, even when the student, parents, and doctors agree to a course of action.

A strong ally can help to negate these negative messages our transgender youth receive, and instead build on their resiliency. Research has shown that when transgender youth are allowed to use their affirmed name at school, home, work and with friends there is a 65% decrease in suicidal attempts. Along with considerations related to a student’s name and pronouns, school districts are also navigating supports around bathroom access, dress code enforcement, and other forms of visibility.

In 2018, lawmakers passed SB7026 also known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Portions of this law create the ‘Guardian Program’ which would empower school districts with discretionary authority to allow certain school faculty and staff members, in partnership with the local sheriff’s office, to conceal carry firearms on campus.

There is significant debate as to how we can best protect Florida students from active shooters. The “Guardian Program” has been highly critiqued for allowing civilians without appropriate training to bring firearms on campus. Others have critiqued the school to prison pipeline and the over emphasis of school districts on school resource officers. In the year 2021, 45% of school-aged youth who experienced an arrest in Florida were black. Evidence suggests a disproportionate number of Black children are being arrested at school for minor acts of misconduct, which we know also disproportionately affects LGBTQ youth of color.

Even as we celebrate the freedom to marry for same sex couples, it is important to understand that some couples do not marry for reasons both personal and practical. These families are just as deserving of health care and other vital protections offered through domestic partnership benefits, which they rely on to care for their loved ones. In some municipalities, opposite sex couples make up nearly three-quarters of those registered for domestic partner benefits.