Shoppers are turning to a growing body of research showing two-thirds of LGBTQ+ students felt unsafe at school last year , a stark signal for educators, parents and policymakers that support must improve now. The 13th National School Climate Survey highlights bullying, exclusion and mental-health strains and points to clear, practical fixes schools can adopt.

Essential Takeaways

  • Widespread insecurity: About two-thirds of surveyed LGBTQ+ K–12 students reported feeling unsafe at school because of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
  • Trans and BIPOC students most affected: Eighty-six percent of trans students avoided certain areas, and nearly half of BIPOC LGBTQ+ students reported harassment linked to race or ethnicity.
  • Harassment is common: Sixty-two percent experienced verbal, physical or online harassment over the school year, with online spaces amplifying harm.
  • Practical fixes matter: Policies, visible staff allies and inclusive curricula were linked to better outcomes in previous GLSEN surveys.
  • Mental health impact: Bullying and a hostile climate are tied to anxiety, avoidance and lower school belonging , simple interventions can reduce these harms.

A stark picture: two-thirds of students say school feels unsafe

The headline number is hard to ignore: roughly two in three LGBTQ+ students reported feeling unsafe at school during the 2023–24 year, a detail that lands with a physical thud when you think of classrooms and playgrounds. The survey gathered responses from 2,800 students aged 13 and up across the United States, giving this feeling of unsafety solid weight rather than an anecdote. This year’s report also notes students perceived the overall climate as more hostile, a change many educators and families are already sensing in conversation and policy debates. For parents and teachers it’s a cue: what feels like rhetoric in the news has real, sensory effects on young people’s daily lives.

Who’s bearing the brunt , and why it matters

Not every LGBTQ+ student experiences school the same way; the survey makes that clear by spotlighting groups who face compounded risks. Trans students, for example, reported avoiding school spaces at very high rates, and BIPOC LGBTQ+ students frequently faced harassment tied to race or ethnicity. Those layered experiences mean a black trans teen, or a Latina trans student, might be navigating multiple daily threats rather than one isolated issue. That intersectionality is why targeted supports , not one-size-fits-all approaches , are essential.

Harassment isn’t just in corridors anymore

Verbal, physical and online harassment were all reported by a majority of respondents, and the internet plays a significant role in how harm spreads and persists. Cyberbullying can follow a student into their home, eroding any sense of safety outside school hours. Schools that treat online harassment as part of their duty of care, update acceptable-use policies and involve parents proactively see better outcomes. Practical steps like clear reporting routes, privacy-aware monitoring and restorative practices help reduce repeat incidents.

What research and past GLSEN findings suggest actually helps

Earlier GLSEN surveys and related research point to concrete interventions that shift school climate for the better: inclusive curricula that reflect LGBTQ+ lives, visible staff allies and teacher training, and well-publicised anti-bullying policies. When students see adults taking a stand , posters, ally badges, assemblies , it changes the sound of the room. Policy wins at school level also matter: gender-neutral facilities, respectful name and pronoun use, and enforcement of discipline for harassment. These might feel straightforward, but they send a message that a student’s identity is respected rather than tolerated.

Simple, practical steps parents and schools can take tomorrow

You don’t need to wait for national guidance to act. Start with the basics: make reporting clear and confidential, ensure staff are trained to intervene safely, and include LGBTQ+ perspectives in lessons where relevant. Encourage student-led clubs and give them visible space. For parents, asking open questions, checking in about specific spaces at school, and knowing the school’s policy on bullying and inclusion can make a real difference. Small changes , a teacher using the right name, a classroom book that includes queer characters , accumulate into a much friendlier environment.

It's a small change that can make every school day feel safer.

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