LGBT Youth in America's Schools

June 25, 2012
In this sobering look at the many issues confronting young LGBT students, Cianciotto and Cahill use statistics and real-life anecdotes to show the pervasiveness of gender- and sexual orientation-based harassment in American schools, and argue for institutional reform and policy changes. Recent research shows that relative to studies conducted in the 70s and 80s, the age at which individuals self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender has dropped significantly. This means that more and more young people are coming out (or being outted) while still technically a minor, and thus subject to the rules of their educational institutions, and increasingly the abuse of their peers, teachers, and school administrators. "he majority of states have laws or regulations that prohibit discrimination," but the authors point out that those laws often do not include "specific enumeration of sexual orientation" and gender identification, which classifications would be "critical" in protecting LGBT students. Organized into three sections (research, current policies, and an agenda for looking forward), Cianciotto and Cahill's treatise is an informative and compelling basis for continuing the discussion (especially as regards LGBT students of color) of how best to protect the rights of a vulnerable and largely disenfranchised group. While their approach is accessible enough for the concerned lay reader, policymakers and educational professionals will likely get the most out of this study.

June 1, 2012

Cianciotto and Cahill shine a spotlight on issues impacting the emotional and physical well-being of students often marginalized and misunderstood. Their intent is "to support the common goal that schools should be safe and affirming institutions of learning for all students, regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity." To this end, the authors successfully combine stories about real individuals with research. Divided into three focus areas, and documented with copious notes, an extensive bibliography, and related case-law citations, the book is a must-read guide to the challenges facing LGBT youth and their schools. Section one examines past and current research and notes the difficulties in studying a population that is growing younger, is ethnically and racially diverse, and is often hidden. The extent and consequences of violence directed at LGBT youth in schools, occurring as early as the elementary grades, are also addressed. Section two reviews federal, state, and local laws and outlines positive school-based practices, such as teacher training, gay-straight alliances, and safe-school programs that explicitly protect LGBT students. The third section is a call to action for additional research with an overview of methodology and recommendations for areas of investigation. Timely, comprehensive, and highly readable, this study warrants inclusion in any library serving school administrators, teachers, and other adults who work with and care for children and teens.-Alicia Eames, formerly at New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.