The Triangle Program, experiences of lesbian, bisexual and gay students in the classroom

grantor: University of TorontoToronto has an alternative high school program, the Triangle Program, for students who leave school because of homophobia. Eleven Triangle Program students were asked about the following: why they came to the program; their experiences at other schools; the advantages and disadvantages of the program; and how had it developed their social, emotional and intellectual skills. Four of the Triangle Program staff were asked about the following: the strengths and weaknesses of the program; the needs that it meet; the barriers that it had to overcome; and the ways in which issues of race, gender and bisexuality were integrated into the lesbigay curriculum. The data obtained showed that these lesbigay students, had little support from educators, family and peers and had endured severe homophobic harassment in their former schools. The Triangle team provided the safety and the social, psychological, academic and economic support lesbigay youth needed to continue with their education. However, issues surrounding race, gender, bisexuality and the transition into other schools needed to be addressed.M.A