Assessing Current Supports for LGBTQ+ Students in Rural and Semi-Rural Schools in Central and Southern Minnesota

This study, still in progress, will examine current school supports for LGBTQ+ students in grades K-12. To assess the current supports that LGBTQ+ students are receiving, we will send out surveys to school staff (e.g., teachers, school psychologists, counselors, principals) in Mankato, St. Peter, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Questions in the survey are tailored to determine the value that staff hold for their LGBTQ+ students. To determine whether or not the schools offer an abundance of support for their LGBTQ+ students, we will ask them questions such as: “Does this school have an LGBTQ+ club”, “Does this school discuss LGBTQ+ relations in sexual education?”, “Are the counselors and/or psychologists at this school trained on how to assist LGBTQ+ students?”. Specifically, the poster will detail results of the survey discussing how LGBTQ+ students are treated at the schools by faculty and other students, as well as how the matters are handled (e.g. what happens when a student is bullied for being LGBTQ+?). Furthermore, the poster will discuss potential biases that some faculty might hold against their LGBTQ+ students (e.g. faculty that are against LGBTQ+ people in general, believe that it is a phase, think that the students are mentally ill, etc.). Based off of previous research, we expect school faculty to report having substantial knowledge and support on the topic of LGBTQ+ issues; however, we expect to find that this knowledge is not incorporated into active clubs/organizations, teaching about LGBTQ+ relations in sex education, or providing safe and comfortable access to bathrooms to their transgender students