Isolation or Inclusion: Creating Safe Spaces for Lesbian and Gay Youth

Abstract

This article demonstrates the use of action research to bring youth and adults together to address homophobia in their community. Two community-based organizations led an action research project, using student surveys, peer-to-peer interviews, student artwork, and artifacts of homophobia in schools. The research found that 94% of the students surveyed hear anti-gay epithets “frequently” or “sometimes” in their schools; 86% of students say that anti-gay harassment is “rarely” or “never” confronted by school officials; and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) of students have been physically harassed based on their real or perceived sexual orientation. This project culminated in an inter-generational conference during which participants developed a network to provide ongoing education, advocacy, and youth development around the problem of school-based homophobia.