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Responsibilities of 

Teachers, Staff, & School Boards to Protect and Support Queer Students

4. Supporting Queer Youth Through Safe Adults

Even one supportive adult can make a major difference in a queer student’s life. Teachers play an important role and have the opportunity to make positive differences in the lives of queer students.

Research from the Trevor Project shows that queer youth who reported having at least one supportive adult in their life, including a teacher, were 40% less likely to have attempted suicide in the last year.

The Greater Victoria School District has included this requirement in their Gender Identity and Gender Expression policy and requires each school appoint at least one “Safe Contact” staff person for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, and who is also able to act as a resource person for staff and families.

Advocacy in Action:

Teachers Create Successful Anti-Homophobia Program

One example of teachers making a big difference in the lives of queer students happened at Mountainview Elementary School in Quebec. Teachers there developed an annual Week to End Homophobia Program. During this week, students and staff work together to fight homophobia and transphobia at the primary school level by participating in activities that challenge gender stereotypes and heteronormativity in the school and in society. Since the program launched in 2011, the school has won multiple awards for its anti-bullying work, and other elementary and high schools in Quebec have also adopted their program.

Moves Against Rights:

School Boards

In recent years, anti-rights groups have targeted school boards—pushing to cut 2SLGBTQIA+ content from curriculum and advancing policies that undermine queer students’ rights. In September 2023, school boards in Ontario and British Columbia were targeted by anti-rights groups aiming to remove curriculum items that mentioned 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. School boards are key decision-makers. When anti-rights voices dominate board meetings or election campaigns, queer students lose protections.

Important

This Guide only provides general information—it does not provide legal advice for your specific situation the way that lawyers and legal clinics can. In the Resources section at the end of this Guide, you will find queer-positive organizations you can contact for assistance, support, and legal help.

If you think that your rights have been violated, and you are considering what to do next, please see the section entitled “What to Do if You Think Your Rights Have Been Violated”.