All schools need to be safe environments for everyone, free of harassment, prejudice and discrimination. School
counselors and administrators are professionally and ethically responsible for providing schools that are free of harassment
for sexual minority youth.
Furthermore, numerous legal precedents and court cases have established that schools are responsible for protecting
sexual minority youth from discrimination and that the schools are expected to suffer legal consequences when this does not
happen.
Finally, research overwhelmingly substantiates that sexual minority youth are at risk for poorer academic
performance, suicide, sexual promiscuity, homelessness, parental rejection, depression and other mental health concerns.
These pieces of evidence provide compelling support that schools must move forward to provide safe environments
for sexual minority youth.
