Professional Resource Review

Little, J. N. (2001). Embracing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Youth in School-Based Settings. Wilson Select Plus. Retrieved Nov. 17, 2008, from http://firstsearch.oclc.org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/WebZ/FSQUERY?sessionid=fsapp13-44077-fnop57vg-e3e7zq:entitypagenum=6:0:numrecs=1:searchtype=locateFT:tdbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:query0=sc%3d%221053-1890+200104+30+2+99+EGLBAT+%3F%22:format=BI:entityfttoprecno=2:next=NEXTCMD%7FFTFETCH:rule=0:tdbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:issuesici=1053-1890+2001+30+2:fetchtype=fulltext:tdisplaydbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:thirdpartydbid=145:isbillable=TRUE:isdirectarticle=FALSE:numrecs=1:format=BI:ftformat=PDF:entityemailfullrecno=2:entityrecno=2:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:%7F


The article, Embracing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Youth in School-Based Settings, explains the importance of introducing diverse issues such as GLBT into the classroom. It does this by explaining the effects that not including this topic into classrooms have on GLBT students. Finally, the article gives helpful suggestions to teachers, librarians, and other adults involved in the education of children, about how to incorporate the difficult topic of homosexuality into the classroom.

J.N. Little begins by giving the definition of homophobia. Homophobia is the “widespread irrational fear and intolerance toward homosexuality” (Little). The main source of this harassment takes place at school. Therefore, it is adults in that environment that are responsible for protecting GLBT individuals. By dismissing homophobia we are causing the children to feel extreme isolation. The article says, “the social and emotional isolation experienced by lesbian and gay youth is a unique stressor that increases vulnerability and risk for a range of physical, social, and emotional health problems” (Little). Some of these problems include chronic depression, substance abuse, school drop-outs, relationship problems, suicide, and homelessness. Many GLBT adolescents begin to feel a physical pain because of the loneliness they feel. This causes them to react in a way that they believe heals the pain. They do this either by substance abuse, or in many cases, suicide. GLBT members are 1.6 times more likely to suffer from substance abuse than heterosexual adolescents. GLBT members are also six times more likely to commit suicide. Another statistic given in the article is that “the drop out rate for these adolescents is twenty-eight percent” (Little). After they drop out these children choose to move onto the streets. There is a large homosexual population found on the streets, and therefore these adolescents feel belonging here than they do at school.

By not including GLBT issues into the classroom, students belonging to this group will feel as though they have no choice but to take these extreme measures. All of the statistics given in the article prove that if students can not find a sense of safeness they will suffer in numerous ways. The main step that Little suggests helping educators to take is to educate themselves on gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered communities. Educators should know support groups to contact to help aid children and their parents. “GLBTQ adults, when asked what would have made school a better
experience for them, replied consistently: “any representation at all in
schools””(Little). This is done by incorporating literature and creating groups such as Gay-Straight Alliances. Every student deserves to learn about themselves and others. Doing this provides a much more successful environment in which diversity is heightened.

I completely agree with everything this article discussed. I was blown away at the statistics and could not believe that because some adults feel that homosexuality should not be discussed, adolescents were being driven to such pain. The advice Little gives to incorporate these issues into the classroom are simple, yet very effective. My opinion is that people need to put their own values aside and realize that these children are depending on us often times for survival. This article taught me things accurate to the GLBT community because there were many direct quotes from GLBT individuals.