Did you know that nine out of ten students reported hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" to mean stupid or worthless. Over 1/3 of students experience physical harassment at school based on sexual orientation and more then a quarter on the basis of their gender expression. LGBTQ students are 18 times more likely to drop out of school and their attendance is lower than their peers. And most disturbing, almost half of students said that school staff were present when the homophobic remarks were made and that staff often left the remarks go unchallenged.

In most of our districts, you or a colleague could be fired in PA because of sexual orientation. (Orientation describes the attraction one feels towards either or both sexes, NOT behavior displayed.)

Think this is relevant for our middle or high school colleagues? Just last week I spoke to a school counselor who had a transgendered first grade student. He now dresses like a girl and has feminized his name. And the expereince isn't the first one I've heard from elementary school counselors.

So what can we do? We can start by confronting negative assumptions about gender and sexual orientation. Education is key; the October/November 2009 NEA magazine has an article titled The Power of One with more sobering statistics. The best thing we can do is to advocate for safety for all our students. Regardless of our own beliefs, when we stand up against prejudices, stereotypes and derogatory statements, we create a safe learning environment for all students, and not just those who are the object of negative comments. We know the role of bystanders and how they, too, are effected by bullying. Create a safe place by putting up a sign that says: this office is a safe place for all students, no matter who you are. Let your students know that you do not accept harassment of any kind.

So next time you hear a student say "that's so gay" go ahead, address it.