Students identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender feel safer at schools with gay-straight alliances, according to a study by Vanderbilt University’s Peabody Research Institute.

The study found bullying reports were significantly lower at schools with the alliances. The students reported having a greater sense of personal safety as well.

Among the study’s findings, students are:

• 52 percent less likely to hear homophobic remarks

• 36 percent less likely to be fearful for their personal safety

• 30 percent less likely to experience homophobic victimization

“Compared to their straight and gender-conforming classmates, LGBTQ students are at an increased risk of victimization in high schools, and our work suggests that GSAs might be a promising solution to this problem,” said Heather Hensman Kettrey, a Peabody Research Institute researcher.

The report is an analysis of 15 independent studies where nearly 63,000 high school students were interviewed.

Gay-straight alliances are protected under the federal Equal Access Act of 1984.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Cobb County teacher Katie Rinderle testifies at a hearing at the Cobb County Board of Education in Marietta on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Rinderle was fired after reading “My Shadow is Purple,” a book about gender identity, to fifth graders. (Arvin Temkar/ajc)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Featured

People carrying a giant pride flag participate in the annual Pride Parade in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez