The School District of Palm Beach County has removed from its website a guide detailing best practices on how to support LGBTQ students and staff. The move comes as districts across the state are grappling with how to comply with , which critics call the 鈥淒on鈥檛 Say Gay鈥� law. The legislation went into effect July 1.
The second edition of Palm Beach schools鈥� LGBTQ+ Critical Support Guide, which is dated 2021, is more than 100 pages long and provides guidance on federal anti-discrimination laws, anti-bullying policies and best practices on supporting people who are coming out or who are socially transitioning.
鈥淲e feel this guide is a critical tool at a critical time. All young people 鈥� including those who are LGBTQ+ 鈥� have the right to feel safe and secure in the schools they attend," a summary of the guide reads. "Students who feel accepted at school are more highly motivated, engaged in learning, and committed to achieving the best possible education."
As the pandemic continues, you can rely on 港澳天下彩to keep you current on local news and information. Your support is what keeps 港澳天下彩strong. Please become a member today. now. Thank you.
A number of school districts have developed their own support guides for LGBTQ students and staff, which include lists of community resources, statistics on the mental health of queer kids and anonymous quotes.
鈥淲here I was brought up ... there's that island culture that is strongly against homosexuality. I would feel like I would want to kill myself. I felt like I was a mistake. I wanted to be heterosexual. I wanted to be like everyone else,鈥� reads a quote in the SDPBC guide attributed to 鈥渁 public school student.鈥�
A spokesperson for the school district said the guide is currently 鈥渦nder review鈥� but would not explain what that review entails.
鈥淭he educational materials that the district shares internally are continually subject to review. The guide that you referenced in your inquiry is currently included in materials under review,鈥� a district spokesperson said.
Equality Florida Press Secretary Brandon Wolf says resources like Palm Beach County鈥檚 guide are critical for queer kids 鈥� who are significantly more likely than their straight peers to experience violence and attempt suicide, according to the .
鈥淭he goal of providing guidelines like the critical support guide has always been to help improve the mental and physical health outcomes of LGBTQ young people,鈥� Wolf said.
The SDPBC guide cites county-level statistics from the CDC鈥檚 showing that in 2019, 50.7% of students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual in Palm Beach County reported feeling sad or hopeless and 35.9% seriously considered suicide.
鈥淭hese statistics validate the need for the Guide. Let there be no doubt 鈥� affirming education can save lives when it comes to LGBTQ+ youth,鈥� the guide reads. 鈥淢any face unique challenges based on social stigma and environmental stressors that may stem from home, school, or both.鈥�
For LGBTQ young people, surveys show that having supportive adults in their lives can make a profound difference. According to , queer kids who had at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year.
鈥淪o in many ways, these are conversations about life and death," Wolf said. "Creating affirming spaces, ensuring that all students are respected and protected, those are life-saving policies. They鈥檙e suicide prevention.鈥�
SDPBC鈥檚 guide includes references to federal court cases and details students鈥� rights to be out in school 鈥� and to not be out at home, and includes language strongly discouraging staff from disclosing a student鈥檚 sexual orientation or gender identity to anyone without their permission.
鈥淥ccasionally, a parent may contact teachers, guidance counselors, or administrators to ask if their child has confided in them about their sexual orientation or gender identity. With the very limited exception involving the imminent fear of physical harm, it is never appropriate to divulge the sexual orientation or gender identity of a student to a parent/caregiver without that student鈥檚 informed consent,鈥� the SDPBC guide reads.
According to reporting by the , state lawmakers wrote House Bill 1557 with the goal of striking down policies like those in Palm Beach County鈥檚 guide. The legislation has sparking national outcry and bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade 鈥� and in all grades if not鈥檚 considered age or developmentally appropriate.
Some districts, including Palm Beach County, have been proactively pulling books, instructional materials and other resources out of circulation in response to the law, which empowers parents to sue districts if they feel their schools aren鈥檛 complying.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Beginning July 16, 2022, the lifeline can be reached by simply dialing 988.
