So Your Child Is Queer: A guide to finding a safe school
More parents are looking to find a safe space for their children to go to school. WE did some of the legwork for you.
Targeting LGBTQ+ people has become a common political tool used by conservative politicians. With trans people’s existence challenged and the queer communities’ belonging in American society questioned by legislators, the stakes for queer kids who attend public schools are high.
Conservative legislators in Arizona have passed more than a dozen bills targeting trans children and gender nonconforming kids in the past few years. Most have met with a veto this past legislative session from Arizona’s Democratic governor. But regardless, the bills have thrust Arizona’s trans students into the spotlight unwillingly.
Media stories capture the fears of violence at school for trans students. A trans high school freshman in Pittsburgh suffered a concussion from another student in a women’s restroom in 2021. Another trans high school student in Nova Scotia, Canada was assaulted on camera this year. A transgender high school student was also assaulted at school in the small city of Kalama, Washington.
As a result, many local parents and guardians have newly become advocates in their children’s schools and, in some cases, switched schools or even districts to make sure their children’s safety can be assured.
While many schools promise to keep all students—including queer students—safe, there are tools parents and guardians can use to help make sure they are sending their child to a supportive school. LOOKOUT asked a group of education experts, leaders, and advocates—along with Arizona students themselves—what parents and their families need to take into consideration as they choose a school that is safe and supportive for their child.
“It’s really hard to know everything by yourself,” said Tami Staas, a Mesa Unified School District teacher and parent of a trans child who graduated high school in 2016 and executive director of the Arizona Trans Youth Parent Organization (AZTYPO). “In the beginning, I was afraid to ask.”
Here are some tips to help parents and guardians get started in assessing whether their school is a good fit.