Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Beyond Pride Month

By Joseph Kosciw, PhD | June 27, 2024
Director of Mental Health Research and Impact, ETR

Throughout Pride Month, we have undoubtedly all seen greater visibility of LGBTQ+ people and events – from Pride flags in our local coffee shops to rainbow versions of company logos on social media and news coverage of local Pride Parades.

Visibility matters, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community who are more isolated and have fewer supports. Evidence suggests, for LGBTQ+ young people in particular, the visibility of rainbow stickers, Pride flags, and Safe Space posters signify spaces where these young people are acknowledged, valued, and supported, and help these young people identify supportive adults at school and increase their sense of connection and belonging at school.

And although the evidence is specifically about schools, we can extrapolate that this happens outside of the school space as well. But on July 1^st, Pride flags come down; news stories on LGBTQ+ people and community events stop, and company logos on social media revert to their original ones without rainbows.

So how do we help LGBTQ+ youth continue to hold these feelings of acceptance and pride in themselves the rest of the year?

Key Elements for Acceptance & Pride in School for LGBTQ+ Youth

Much of my research career has involved examining what LGBTQ+ students experience in school and, more importantly, what are the mechanisms that create more positive learning environments for them.

Research has shown that four key elements help create safer schools:

1) Having adults at school who are supportive of LGBTQ+ students

2) Curriculum that is inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, history, and events

3) Safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students and allies to meet, such as Gender Sexuality Alliances

4) LGBTQ+ protective and affirming school and district policies.[i]

All four of these elements can be implemented throughout the year to help LGBTQ+ young people feel visible and affirmed, in school settings and beyond.

How to Consistently Support LGBTQ+ Youth

Continue to be a visible ally. Of all the supports, having a supportive adult has the strongest benefit for LGBTQ+ young people.[ii] It is important to continue visible signs of support whether it be in a classroom, a lobby, or a clinic waiting room. It is also important to dedicate time to our own continual learning about the life experiences of and needs for LGBTQ+ young people. 

Be inclusive of LGBTQ+ identities in your language and your work. It is important to talk about LGBTQ+ people, issues, and experiences as a matter of course. Use gender neutral language until you know what language or terms a person uses and be aware of making assumptions about a person’s gender and sexual orientation. Use gender neutral language until you know what language or terms a person uses and be aware of making assumptions about a person’s gender and sexual orientation.

If you’re an educator, include representations of LGBTQ+ topics and issues in the classroom regardless of your subject area. Research has shown that LGBTQ+ students are less likely to see positive inclusion in certain subject areas, such as math, science, and physical education, and if you teach in these areas, seek out ways to be more LGBTQ+ inclusive. (For an example, here’s a resource on LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 mathematics.)

But no matter your role, it is important to assess how your area of work impacts and is impacted by LGBTQ+ people and think about how you can be more inclusive and supportive. 

Support safe spaces for LGBTQ+ young people and their allies. If you are a school professional, support a school club like a Gender Sexuality Alliance. (GSA Network provides resources and tips on how to support GSAs, even in unsupportive or hostile environments.) Know what resources are available in your area where LGBTQ+ young people can go for support. CenterLink has a directory of local LGBTQ community centers across the country, and its YouthLink program offers Q Chat Space, a digital LGBTQ+ center for LGBTQ+ teens, providing live-chat support groups. 

Advocate. As of now, ACLU is tracking 523 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. And according to the Movement Advancement Project, 8 states currently explicitly prohibit discussions of LGBTQ+ people or issues in school curricula, and 6 states criminalize offering best practice medical care for transgender young people (but thankfully, 16 states have “shield” laws that protect access to transgender health care).

Research has shown how negative LGBTQ+ laws cause harm to physical and mental health for LGBTQ+ people.[iii] However, having protective policies in schools are related to better psychological and educational outcomes for LGBTQ+ students.[iv] As allies, we need to know the laws in our states and the policies in our local school districts and be active advocates opposing laws and policies and supporting inclusive and protective ones.

Beyond Pride Month

Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ yourself, have LGBTQ+ loved ones, you're an educator or youth service professional, or simply a caring person, we all have a responsibility to ensure that LGBTQ+ young people and all of our future generations live in a world where they can feel pride in who they are, feel safe, affirmed, and accepted in their daily lives.

Now is an important time to think about and commit to how we can be visible and effective allies for LGBTQ+ young people and work together to ensure pride extends beyond Pride Month. 

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