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. 2018 Apr;108(4):557-564.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304296. Epub 2018 Feb 22.

Trends in Secondary Schools' Practices to Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Students, 2008-2014

Zewditu Demissie  1 , Catherine N Rasberry  1 , Riley J Steiner  1 , Nancy Brener  1 , Tim McManus  1
Affiliations

Trends in Secondary Schools' Practices to Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Students, 2008-2014

Zewditu Demissie et al. Am J Public Health. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine trends in the percentage of US secondary schools that implemented practices related to the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students.

Methods: This analysis used data from 4 cycles (2008-2014) of School Health Profiles, a surveillance system that provides results representative of secondary schools in each state. Each school completed 2 self-administered questionnaires (principal and teacher) per cycle. We used logistic regression models to examine linear trends.

Results: Of 8 examined practices to support LGBTQ youths, only 1-identifying safe spaces for LGBTQ youths-increased in most states (72%) from 2010 to 2014. Among the remaining 7, only 1-prohibiting harassment based on a student's perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity-had relatively high rates of adoption (a median of 90.3% of schools in 2014) across states.

Conclusions: Many states have seen no change in the implementation of school practices associated with LGBTQ students' health and well-being.

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