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 Written by Dr. Catherine Taylor (University of Winnipeg) and Dr. Tracey Peter (University of Manitoba). Published by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. 2011.
The report Every Class in Every School, which was written by Dr. Catherine Taylor (University of Winnipeg) and Dr. Tracey Peter (University of Manitoba), seeks to provide a solid Canadian evidence base for understanding the experiences of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Two Spirit, queer, or questioning) teens in high-schools. Over an 18 month period between December 2007 and June 2009, data was collected from 3700 high school students across Canada using an open-access online survey and controlled-access in-class sessions. These surveys asked students to provide demographic information, homophobic and transphobic experiences they faced at school and the institutional response to those experiences.
Of those students who participated in the online survey, approximately 30% were LGBTQ, while 14.1% of participants in the in-class controlled surveys identified themselves this way. The data gathered from both surveys suggests that LGBTQ teens feel more isolated and have less of a connection to their school and community than other students. These students might feel this way because they are uncomfortable being themselves in this environment. Around two thirds of LGBTQ teens who were surveyed said that they feel unsafe at school. Just over 30% of participants also said that they have skipped school because they were concerned about their safety in this setting.
Students who identified as gender minorities (transgender and transsexual) appear to struggle more than those who are sexual minorities (gay, lesbian and bisexual). For example, 37% of transsexual students who were surveyed reported that they have been physically harassed or assaulted at school, while 21% of sexual minority students and 10% of non-LGBTQ students were treated this way. All groups represented in this survey reported high levels of sexual harassment. The percentages of these students who said that they have been sexually harassed at school over the previous year are provided below:
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Student group |
% who experienced sexual harrassment over the span of a year |
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Trans students |
49% |
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Students with LGBTQ parents |
45% |
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Female bisexual students |
43% |
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Male bisexual students |
42% |
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Gay male students |
40% |
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Lesbian students |
33%
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Overall, the study indicates that certain policy initiatives can reduce discrimination and increase the sense of security of LGBTQ students at school. The authors mention that “[i]n schools that have made efforts to introduce LGBTQ-inclusive policies, GSAs [Gay-Straight Alliances], and even some LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, the climate is significantly more positive for sexual and gender minority students.”
From these findings, the report suggests that schools, boards of education and university faculties that offer Bachelor of Education programs follow these recommendations to develop safer high-school environments for Canadian LGBTQ teens:
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Provincial Ministries of Education should require the inclusion of auditable anti-homophobia, anti-biphobia, and anti-transphobia and intersectionality measures in safer schools policies and programmes, along with steps for the effective implementation of these policies.
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Schools should strongly support the efforts of students to start GSAs, or similar LGBTQ-inclusive student-led clubs, and that in schools where students have not come forward, administration should ask teachers to offer to work with students to start such clubs.
This report should be read by all teachers, school administrators and those who educate new teachers.
Reviewed by Kevin Unrau
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 
