Georgia PTA joins National PTA's October Every Child in Focus campaign in the celebration of LGBTQ History Month. Using the PTA National Standard for Family-School Partnerships, we will explore ways PTAs can welcome and support the families of LGBTQ children and/or parents in the school community.

Negative attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students puts them at an increased risk for violence and bullying.  Negative attitudes also impact a student's ability to learn at school.  
National PTA has created information and resources on the unique challenges LGBTQ children face and ways PTAs can better support LGBTQ families in achieving student success. See link below.

How is Georgia measuring up to welcome and support the families of LGBTQ children and/or parents?
 
According to the GLSEN report on school climate here are the findings from Georgia students/families that completed the survey.
  • Students heard anti-LGBT language from school staff.
  • 27% regularly heard staff make negative remarks about someone's gender expression
  • 19% regularly heard school staff make homophobic remarks.
  • The majority experienced verbal harassment (e.g., called names or threatened) 8 in 10 based on their sexual orientation and more than 5 in 10 based on the way they ex- pressed their gender  
  • Students also reported high levels of other forms of harassment at school
  • 89% felt deliberately excluded or "left out" by peers
  • 80% had mean rumors or lies told about them
  • 58% were sexually harassed
  • 49% experienced electronic harassment or "cyberbullying"
  • 45% had property (e.g., car, clothing, or books) deliberately damaged and/or stolen.
 
How can Georgia Schools improve the climate of schools children and/or parents who identify as LGBTQ? By following PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.
 
In addition, Georgia school leaders, education policymakers, and other individuals who are obligated to provide safe learning environments for all students should:
  • Adhere to their schools anti-bullying/harassment policies;
  • Provide professional development for school staff on LGBTQ student/parent issues; and
  • Provide access to LGBTQ-inclusive curricular resources. 
At this year's National PTA Convention in Orlando, history was made as the delegates approved the resolution on the recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer /questioning individuals as a protected class. See link below for Resolution.
 
This provides a community which often feels isolated and separated a sense of security. As I sat in the room, it meant that children like me would feel safe at school. It also meant that these children would have another advocate in their corner. One I desperately wished I had growing up.     
We have come a long way as a society to ensure equal access to education and promote educational excellence throughout the nation through the vigorous enforcement of civil rights and prohibit discrimination by educational institutions on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation and age. As PTA members and leaders, we must continue to strive to be inclusive to honor our mission. We speak for every child with one voice.  
 
Nicole Ponziani
Committee Member, Diversity and Inclusion, Georgia PTA
 
Tammie Jenkins
Diversity and Inclusion Chair, Georgia PTA