The state of New York may have a comparatively liberal attitude towards its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) residents. But a new poll suggests that generally tolerant mindset may not extend to the state's school system.
The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) released its "School Climate in New York" report, which aims to provide a "snapshot" of the educational environment for LGBT students in New York state's middle and high schools.
The report, which looked at 2011 statistics, found that about nine out of 10 LGBT students polled said they regularly heard classmates make negative remarks about how someone expressed their gender, such as comments about someone not acting "feminine" or "masculine" enough. Meanwhile, one out of every five LGBT students said they were physically harassed, and about one in 10 said they had been physically assaulted, based on their sexual orientation.
“While we have seen some progress nationally in the 14 years since we started our National School Climate Survey, much work remains to ensure that all New York schools are safe and affirming environments for LGBT students,” Dr. Eliza Byard, GLSEN’s Executive Director, said in a press release. “We look forward to working with our New York Chapter partners to ensure that every LGBT student has equal access to a quality education.”
GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey, which was released in September 2012, found that six out of 10 LGBT teens said they felt unsafe at school, while 82 percent of that same group say they've been verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation.
You can view the full "School Climate In New York" report here.
Take a look at some select findings from the report in the slideshow below:
Before You Go
