Majority of LGBT Students Don't Feel Safe at School: Survey

A newly released survey by the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network says the majority of the state's LGBT students don't feel safe at school.

Eight out of 10 students have heard homophobic remarks, according to the report. In addition, three out of 10 students have been physically harassed, the report points out.

"The numbers don't lie and there isn't enough being done, period," said Sasha Buchert of the Transgender Law Center in Oakland.

The survey is not surprising to Buchert and others at the center, who field thousands of calls for help every year.

"Hopefully it's a reminder to school administrators to public officials, to parents, to everyone to share their stories and start talking about this important issue,"

The Oakland Unified School District is creating Gay Straight Alliance clubs at every middle and high school, and rolling out new teaching materials that promote inclusiveness.

"It's vitally important that we have these programs for the students that they get the message coming from the administration and coming from adults in their lives that being LGBTQ is both okay and wonderful," said  May Tulin, an LGBT liaison at the district.

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