In the District of Columbia, roughly 25 percent of middle and high school students identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or other, and 2 percent identify as transgender (LGBTQ+). While these students are more likely than their heterosexual and cisgender peers to skip school for fear of violence, be the target of bullying at school and online and experience feelings of hopelessness, we know that welcoming and inclusive schools can and do improve health and academic outcomes. We know that LGBTQ+ students deserve our support and focus, but what does that look like in the classroom?

In September 2023, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) invited school leaders and educators to participate in the “LGBTQ+ Back-To-Basics… and Beyond” Bootcamp. The series provided a deep dive into key concepts, data, policy and best practices to help educators foster inclusion and belonging in their teaching, classroom, and school community for LGBTQ+ students.

Access the recorded sessions below.

• Session 1: LGBTQ+ Back-To-Basics: Welcoming and Including LGBTQ+ Students (Video | Slides)
• Session 2: Beyond the Binary: Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students of Color (Video | Slides)
• Session 3: Using Data for Health Promotion: What DC Data Tell Us About the Mental Health, Substance Use and Sexual Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Students (Video | Slides)
• Session 4: Rights and Responsibilities: An LGBTQ+ School Policy Review (Video | Slides)
• Session 5: Inclusive Curriculum, Inclusive Community: Best Practices Towards Building an LGBTQ+ Affirming Learning Experience (Video | Slides)

For questions or more information about supporting LGBTQ+ students in schools, please email [email protected].