Activism in the Schools: Providing LGBTQ Affirmative Training to School Counselors

Abstract

SUMMARY Research suggests that school experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth are overwhelmingly negative and that anti-LGBTQ violence and victimization in school lead to both acute and chronic negative developmental outcomes for these youth. The counseling psychology profession is uniquely situated to address and ameliorate these negative environments by providing training and support to school counselors on LGBT youth and prevention education. This article describes a model developed in partnership between a community-based organization and a local University to train school counselors and other educational professionals to be agents of change within their own school community toward creating safer and supportive environments for LGBTQ youth.