How to help lgbtq students

Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people

Risks of harm

Evidence suggests that LGBTQ+ children and young people might be at increased risk of some forms of harm.

Child sexual exploitation

LGBTQ+ relationships are underrepresented in educational resources and the media (Barnardo’s and Fox, 2016). This means there are fewer examples of relevant, sound relationships available to LGBTQ+ young people. If LGBTQ+ adolescent people are not taught about robust and unhealthy relationships, it might be easier for an abuser to groom them into believing an abusive bond is normal.

If Homosexual young people are unable to receive information about sex and relationships from school or family, they might look for advice and sustain from people in adult spaces, such as gay clubs. This is particularly true of youthful people who exist in rural areas or in communities where their gender identity or sexuality is not acknowledged. Adult spaces don’t have the equal safeguarding and toddler protection measures in place as spaces specifically for children. Children might be pressured or coerced into doing something they don’t hope to do, particularly if they are already isolated and don’t have anywhere els

how to help lgbtq students

Empowering LGBTQ+ Students: Strategies for Support and Inclusion

We’re thrilled to share a series of blogs on Homosexual inclusivity. In today’s culture, it’s vital to build safe, inclusive, and supportive educational environments for all students. Including those who identify as LGBTQ+. By promoting acceptance, understanding, and respect, we can enable LGBTQ+ students to win in their lives. However, it’s essential to confirm the specific challenges they face and actively struggle to address them.

LGBTQ+ students encounter difficulties in schools and universities. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on their sexual orientation or gender identity can disturb their mental health. Many LGBTQ+ students experience isolation, fear, and stigma, restricting their educational progress. Moreover, the lack of inclusive policies, curriculum, and help further worsens the challenges faced by students.

Understanding LGBTQ+Terms

To create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, it’s crucial to have an understanding of the terminology associated with the LGBTQ community. Familiarising ourselves with these terms allows us to communicate resp

How to Support Gay Students on Campus in 2024

LGBTQ+ students on campuses around the Together States are facing more anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment than seen in years. In the face of violence, mistreatment, and growing oppressive legislation, some Point Foundation Scholars spoke out about what their colleges, universities, and schools can do to support them and their success in college.

“In a cultural moment when Homosexual identity is being policed, silenced, and erased in education, it's important to have LGBTQ+ voices in higher education,” said Robyn(she/they), a Flagship Scholar with a Kevin Hummer Scholarship. “Without LGBTQ+ presence and perspective, our community risks further erasure, misinterpretation, and oppression.”

The Current Environment for LGBTQ+ Students 

As states around the nation pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation affecting people inside and out of the classroom, LGBTQ+ students on campuses nationwide continue to fight for their rights and better services in places of higher learning. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed in 2023 are now taking consequence in states, removing diversity, equity, and inclusion funding in higher education, silencing academic and personal convers

Supporting LGBTQ+ students to progress to selective universities

How teachers and advisers can back LGBTQ+ students

1. Allyship

Allyship is crucial for fostering inclusion and equality, and a big part of breaking down barriers for gay students to help them have a better chance at accessing opportunities. This may look like amplifying the voices of those who are less capable to speak, or educating yourself and others. You could ask yourself - do I know the struggles potentially faced by LGBTQ+ young people? Stonewall has created a fantastic guide aimed at educators on proactive ways to ensure your LGBTQ+ students feel supported. When youthful people feel supported and safe, they will be significantly more likely to progress to higher learning process and selective universities. 

2. Representation

Representation is fundamental for personal development and accessing HE. If we can provide role models who new people can see themselves in, we can build a sense of social belonging and how we make spaces truly inclusive. When students see themselves represented in educational spaces, then they are more likely to have the confidence, ambition and self-belief to say “yes, I can go o

Mental health sustain if you're woman loving woman, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBTQ+)

Mental health problems such as depression or self-harm can alter any of us, but they're more common among people who are queer woman, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+).

This may be linked to LGBTQ+ people's exposure of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality.

Other things, such as their age, religion, where they live, and their ethnicity can insert extra complications to an already complicated situation.

How talking therapy can help

It might not be easy, but getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your possess is one of the most key things you can do.

Talking with a therapist who's trained to work with LGBTQ+ people may help with issues such as:

  • difficulty accepting your sexual orientation
  • coping with other people's reactions to your sexuality
  • feeling your body does not demonstrate your true gender (gender dysphoria)
  • transitioning
  • low self-esteem
  • self-harm
  • suicidal thoughts
  • depression
  • coping with bullying and discrimination
  • anger, isolation or rejection from family, friends or your community
  • fear of v