By Bryce Culver and Sam Cleare
This article was originally published in GPR’s Spring 2017 Magazine
With the slogan, “Where Freedom to Be Becomes Your New Reality,” Pride School Atlanta pioneers a program that focuses on supporting the specific needs of LGBTQ+ students in Georgia. This non-profit, independent school serves a wide range of individuals, accepting students from ages 5 through 18. Modeled after other schools that promote the education of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies – including Harvey Milk High School as well as the Albany and Brooklyn Free Schools – Pride School Atlanta paves the way for the future of safe spaces in schools. Today, these resources are more important than ever before.
Discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community is a persistent feature of modern America. Regardless, this community has recently made advances in civil rights and social acceptance. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that a majority of Americans are now supportive of LGBTQ+ issues. Despite this approval, a significant number of Americans are still critical of sexual and gender minorities, especially in more rural communities and in regards to individuals of color. These attitudes are particularly pronounced in the school experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. Students learn to define themselves at school, and the experiences that lead to these discoveries can either shape a student’s life for the better or lead to serious consequences.
A recent survey of LGBTQ+ youth by the Human Rights Campaign helps illustrate the isolation and vitriol many LGBTQ+ students face as a result of sexual and gender discrimination. According to the survey, almost half of all LGBTQ+ youth view their community as unaccepting of sexual and gender minorities. Even students in more accepting communities are not immune to anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, as 92 percent of respondents claimed they are exposed to negative messaging regarding sexual or gender minorities. It is clear that LGBTQ+ youth still face harassment in communities across the country.
More so than community environments, school environments can act as the most effectual arena for acceptance or harassment. Based on the most recent data, researchers still see a strong presence of harassment against LGBTQ+ youth by peers in school. A recent study conducted in 2015 by the National School Climate Survey found that over 50 percent of LGBTQ+ students have been verbally attacked for their sexual or gender identification, and 1 in 5 students have been physically harassed for the same reason. In Georgia, the numbers are even higher. Over 70 percent of LGBTQ+ students in Georgia have faced verbal harassment, one-third of students have faced physical harassment, and 1 in 10 students have been physically assaulted due to their sexual or gender nonconformity. In fact, LGBTQ+ students are three times as likely to be harassed than other minorities and twice as likely to have been physically assaulted. In addition, over 85 percent of all LGBTQ+ youth encounter homophobic remarks, LGBTQ+ slurs or negative comments about gender expression in school.
While harassment and bullying can be a persistent problem for any school, the harassment against LGBTQ+ students is often reinforced by a lack of administrative action; in some cases, the administration itself has discriminated against students based on their sexual or gender expression. In Georgia, one-third of LGBTQ+ students were disciplined for expression of public affection (with no similar action pursued for non-LGBTQ+ students) or prevented from wearing clothes deemed inappropriate for their sex. A quarter of students were prevented from bringing a same-gender date to their school dance, and 1 in 5 students were prevented from using the bathroom or locker room that aligns with their gender. The majority of school administrations do not intervene against LGBTQ+ student expression, yet the vast majority still do not provide the necessary protections or resources for sexual and gender nonconformity. In Georgia, only 3 percent of schools have bullying/harassment policies that include protections for LGBTQ+ students. Less than one-third of schools have a gay-straight alliance or library resources for sexual and gender minorities and only 1 in 10 have an inclusive health curriculum for nonconforming students.
This data suggests that safe spaces, which provide the necessary resources and protections to LGBTQ+ students, are necessary to ameliorate administrative gaps. Safe spaces enhance and maintain environments in schools that are culturally competent and supportive to LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as straight, cisgender people who care about diversity, equality and inclusion. Promoting the implementation of these programs and training into the school environment can significantly improve the lives of LGBTQ+ youth.
Therefore, Pride School Atlanta provides much more than a quality education for LGBTQ+ students and allies. Students learn more than math and other core subjects; they learn to understand and accept their identities as well as the identities of others. According to Charlotte, a student at Atlanta Pride School, “I can be myself at school for the first time.” With this freedom, students can truly come to full fruition, achieving at their highest potential.
About three years ago, Pride School Atlanta also became a non-profit organization. According to the director, Christian Zsilavetz, the mission statement has never changed, and the organization has always aimed to provide a school environment free of homophobia and “where everyone can be themselves.” Pride School Atlanta also provides LGBTQ+ identifying role models for students and connects individuals with support through training with the National Urban League and the State Department, therapists, and mentors. Further, Pride School Atlanta serves individuals outside of Atlanta and even the state of Georgia. Students from all over Georgia attend Pride School Atlanta. Not to mention, parents benefit from the services of Pride School Atlanta, as the school provides a safe space for LBGTQ+ identifying parents to school their children. The organization works with the LGBT Youth Summit, other LGBTQ+ affirming schools, and over 30 other organizations.
According to Zsilavetz, the media plays a large role. He states that it is important to utilize the media in order to gain publicity and provide support for individuals who cannot come out as LGBTQ+ identifying due to financial and safety concerns. In the future, he plans to create a television and radio show. However, Zsilavetz believes he will keep the school institution small in order to assist the needs of every individual student. Many of the students enter the school with PTSD from bullying. He explains, “There are many ugly roads to get here. By age 14, many of the students have been institutionalized multiple times, even 10-20 times. And these are just these 12 kids coming here. That’s not even the kids who haven’t made it here.”
Pride School Atlanta continues to gain attention and help its students as well as their families. Individuals and larger organizations donate thousands in supplies to Pride School Atlanta. Hotlanta softball league also donated clothes to the school. Even in an uncertain political climate regarding the rights of LGBTQ+ identifying individuals, a non-partisan effort is being made to protect the right to an education for all. The need for this communal effort is especially necessary in a school environment still unfit for LGBTQ+ students.