Research Log #2

Source:

Laurel B. Watson, et al. "Content-Specific Strategies To Advocate For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Youth: An Exploratory Study." School Psychology Review 38.4 (2009): 570-584. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Mar. 2012

Summary:

          The main focus of this article is to find ways to help ease the discrimination against those that are associated with LGBT group and to make their environment and community a safer place for them. In the beginning of the article, it is stated that there are five common strategies that are recommended for advocacy for LGBT in school. The first strategy is that schools should include LGBT issues in the curriculum to help others view the matter from a more positive perspective.  The second strategy is to provide staff development related LGBT issues. Third, any advocate should support the gay-straight alliance or provide a safe place for LGBT students and heterosexual students who are supportive of LGBT. Fourth, a student’s sexual orientation should be included into the school’s policy of anti-discrimination. The final strategy is to show a display of support for the LGBT community by putting up posters or fliers around the school.

          Laurel Watson states that there are numerous school staff members who are aware of existing issues with LGBT members but they have  lack of knowledge of the matter and aren’t very willing to confront these issues in their schools due to the uncertainty of how students and their parents would react. The study that was recorded in this article consisted of information about advocacy tools that school personnel have used or are currently using to spread a positive message to their student body about LGBT.  The people who were used for this study were school personnel who were employed at a high school and served a role as a GSA Adviser (Gay-Straight Alliance). They were asked a series of questions based on what they have witnessed within LGBT youth as well as personal experiences.

          After analyzing all the data and combining all the research, it is suggested that any advocate for LGBT students should have a variety of strategies to implement to the school.  It is also suggested to individually do research and educate yourself on the issue in case you are presented with a situation regarding the LGBT community or someone involved or associated with it to pass on their knowledge.

Response:

          What I gained from this article is that there is action being taken in schools to help LGBT youth feel more comfortable in their own community and among their peers with the help and support of school personnel and staff. I strongly agree with the article stating that we should each do our own research on the topic so we can gain a stable perspective and understanding of what is exactly going on. Something that surprised me in the article is when it states that there are some staff members who are unwilling to confront this issue to the students.  To me, I feel that if you are going to obtain a job where you deal with young teens, you should be well aware that there are a numerous amount of matters that need to be brought to attention. Especially if there are negative outcomes because of it.

What’s Next:

          I chose this source because it not only mentioned the issue of discrimination of sexual orientation, but it discusses how to lessen the problem just by being informed about this situation.  After reading this article, it makes me wonder what are some other effective ways that schools have used to help advocate for LGBT students and how informed are other schools when it comes to helping their LGBT students feel safe in their own community.