This commentary is by Dana Kaplan, executive director of Outright Vermont.
In a world increasingly marred by division and violence, the steadfast support of Vermont’s elected officials for the LGBTQ+ community emerges as a beacon of hope and courage, especially for LGBTQ+ youth who are in the crosshairs of hate on a daily basis.
Last week, members of the Legislature’s Rainbow Caucus and allies issued a statement that rightly identified the current climate of anti-LGBTQ+ hate as an assault not just on the community, but on the very values that define us as Vermonters: love, safety and inclusion. Their recognition of the anti-LGBTQ+ movements threatening Vermont underscores a commitment to fight against queer and trans antagonism and advance equality, respect and justice.
This recognition is not merely symbolic; the visibility and support from elected leaders provides essential affirmation that LGBTQ+ youth belong and their identities are valid and respected.
In Vermont, the need for such affirmation is acute. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 2021 data points a troubling picture of the realities faced by LGBTQ+ youth in our state. Our new brief, “Urgent Realities: Critical Stats on Vermont’s LGBTQ+ Youth,” shows higher rates of bullying, depression and feelings of isolation than their heterosexual peers. And, today, there are over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation in the U.S., many targeting LGBTQ+ youth and their right to safely access basic necessities like health care, school bathrooms and sports.
Such realities and statistics underscore the urgent necessity for supportive environments that affirm LGBTQ+ identities and foster well-being.
However, recognition and statements, while vital, are not enough on their own. We must translate our values into tangible actions that uplift and support LGBTQ+ youth.
And — importantly — LGBTQ+ youth have spoken, providing us a road map for how to support them.
Last year, a youth-led organization, Queer Youth Assemble, collected youth demands in national focus group conversations in preparation for the national March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. Outright concurrently held conversations with Vermont youth leaders to ask for their priorities and demands. The resulting document, 2023 Demands for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy, represents a collective vision for a world where all queer and trans youth have autonomy.
An area of focus includes needed improvements in our schools, cited below:
Demands for schools
- We call for the end to outing and ask for teachers, parents and peers to maintain confidentiality in regards to others’ gender, sexuality and other aspects of our identities.
- We call for school faculty and staff to undergo mandated LGBTQ+-specific diversity, equity and inclusion training.
- Schools should create and follow a clear plan for trans students to use chosen names in place of legal names (unless specifically instructed otherwise by the student).
- Designate funding for at least one clearly designated and functioning gender-neutral bathroom at all times, and transition to single-stall and multi-stall gender-neutral bathrooms.
- Teach LGBTQ+, BIPOC and disabled history as part of existing history classes and make LGBTQ+ history, BIPOC and African American history electives accessible for students who want to learn about these communities.
- Require the teaching of LGBTQ+ inclusive sex-ed as a part of sex-ed courses/curriculums. Sex-ed should be comprehensive, culturally competent, developmentally appropriate, trauma and consent informed, medically accurate and inclusive of intersex and disabled experiences.
- Remove dress codes that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, nativist, xenophobic, mentalist/sanist or classist.
- Collect, analyze and publicize Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding LGBTQ+ students, including gender identity and expression.
This is why we are calling for an increase in the state’s education budget to support LGBTQ+ youth.
The YRBS data brief, combined with advocacy from the Agency of Education and the demands of our youth, paints a clear picture of the needs within our community. It is a call to action for all stakeholders to unite in support of LGBTQ+ youth. Increased funding for schools is a critical step in this direction, allowing for the implementation of comprehensive support systems, inclusive curricula, and resources that affirm LGBTQ+ identities.
We stand at a pivotal moment in our fight for equality and inclusion. The courage and leadership shown by our elected officials and allies in recognizing the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community are commendable. Now, we must build on this foundation with concrete actions that safeguard and support our youth. Increased funding for schools to support LGBTQ+ youth is not just a policy proposal; it is a moral imperative. Let us all heed this call to action and work tirelessly to ensure that our schools — and by extension, our society — are places where every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can feel safe, supported and valued.
