#187 | Back-to-School as an Ally: Simple Steps to Create Safer Classrooms for LGBTQ Youth | #shorts

13 Aug 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:55

This content was created by Heather Hester. This content was uploaded by Heather Hester. This is a YouTube #short titled "#187 | Back-to-School as an Ally: Simple Steps to Create Safer Classrooms for LGBTQ Youth | #shorts" (created 2025-08-13). The excerpt is an educational/advocacy spoken segment (appearing to be a single presenter) about the experiences of LGBTQ+ students in school—particularly in middle school—covering exclusion, identity struggles, escalation of overt and subtle bullying, and citing a 2023 national school climate survey statistic about negative remarks on gender expression and feelings of safety.

Chapters

They may be the one who watches others get included in activities or groups that they feel unwelcome in. Or they may be the kid who doesn't yet have the language to name their identity, but feels different and worries what others might think. This can be even more intense in middle school where peer acceptance becomes Everything. And bullying, both overt and subtle, can really escalate. According to Gilsen's 2023 National School Climate Survey, they found that 82% of LGBTQ+ students heard negative remarks about gender expression from peers, and nearly 60% reported feeling unsafe at school because of their identity.