BACKGROUNDER: What to Know About Back-to-School Season Amid Spike in Anti-LGBTQ+ Bullying, Hate Crimes

WASHINGTON - August 5, 2024 Across the nation, LGBTQ+ students of all ages are returning to school while dealing with an ongoing hostile political climate that often targets trans youth. Despite facing waves of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, like book bans and classroom censorship, HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools program has provided training to over 13,000 educators nationwide, impacting more than 750,000 students each day. Educators and other youth serving professionals are looking for ways to show up for the youth they engage every day. We know that students cannot thrive at school if they feel unsafe, and far too many LGBTQ+ students continue to face bullying and harassment simply for being their authentic selves kids learn best when their environment is supportive and affirming.

What you need to know:

• The Welcoming Schools program has become increasingly crucial in combating bias-based bullying and helping to create safe spaces for transgender and non-binary students. After Welcoming Schools training, 89% of educators reported high levels of confidence in their knowledge and ability to support LGBTQ+ students.
• Bullying and harassment against LGBTQ+ youth in educational settings has surged, mirroring the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the past couple of years:
• In states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws, school hate crimes quadrupled, leading to a corresponding rise in youth crisis hotline calls.
• Recent FBI hate crimes report: hate crimes in schools on the rise (School-based offenses on elementary, secondary and university campuses accounted for 10% of all the hate crime offenses reported in 2022)
• Those identifying as LGBTQ+ faced the third-highest number of reported hate crime offenses.
• Nearly 60% of LGBTQ+ teens have experienced bullying at school due to their sexuality or gender identity.
• Studies clearly demonstrate the harms for LGBTQ+ youth mental health when they are denied affirming and protective school environments:
• Youth living in states with enumerated anti-bullying laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity report less homophobic victimization and harassment than do students who attend schools in states without these protections.
• LGBTQ+ students in schools with LGBTQ+ supporting clubs and sexual orientation & gender identity resources often report feeling safer and are less likely to report depressive symptom, substance use, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in comparison with students in schools lacking such resources.

HRC Foundation spokespeople and educational experts are available for interviews upon request, including:

• Cheryl Greene, HRC Foundation's Sr. Director of Welcoming Schools
• Ellen Kahn, HRC Foundation's Vice President of Programs and Partnerships
• Angie Powers, High School English Teacher, Kansas
• Dr. Michael Konrad, PK-8 School Principal, Arizona

Human Rights Campaign Foundation resources for students, families and educators:

• HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools:
• Book lists
• Creating gender inclusive classrooms
• Gender Support Checklist
• Creating inclusive learning environments in secondary schools
• Brand new coloring book that encourages kids to "be artistic, be creative, be you!"
• HRC Foundation's Project THRIVE:
• Project THRIVE is a multi-year national campaign to create more equitable, inclusive support systems and communities for LGBTQ+ youth. Project THRIVE will build the skills and capacities of all youth-serving professionals to better meet the needs of LGBTQ+ young people.
• Checklist for creating safe and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth
• Coming out resources for LGBTQ+ people and understanding LGBTQ+ identities
• Understanding digital and online spaces and communities for LGBTQ+youth
• A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.