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Rural lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students feel less safe at school than their peers in suburban and urban areas, according to a national study on LGBT students in rural and small town schools. The study, "Strengths and Silences: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in Rural and Small Town Schools," was released last week by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and examines the experiences of more than 2,300 LGBT high school students in rural areas.

This past weekend in San Diego, I had the opportunity to participate in the 4th Annual National Educator Conference focused on creating safe, supportive, and inclusive schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. A goal of the conference, presented by the Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL), was to bring together education leaders and LGBT experts to empower and provide educators and school personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to create safe, welcoming and inclusive school environments for all youth, regardless of their sexual orientation.

The Family Acceptance Project™ is a community research, intervention and education initiative to study the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the health, mental health and well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Results will be used to help families provide support for LGBT youth, to develop appropriate interventions, programs and policies, and to train providers to improve the quality of services and care they receive. The project is funded by The California Endowment, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and individual donors.

TransActive Education & Advocacy provides the necessary support to improve the quality of life of transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families through education, services, advocacy and research.

ReachOut USA focuses on the intersection between disability and LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) concerns. ReachOut USA seeks to influence the disability community to be more responsive to LGBT individuals, and at the same time it seeks to influence LGBT individuals and organizations to be more accountable to people who have disabilities.  ReachOut USA pursues these goals through advocacy, training, technical assistance, referrals, and the negotiation of partnerships.

Schools that have clear policies, procedures and activities designed to prevent bullying and have supportive staff and student organizations can be effective in reducing verbal and physical harassment. These kinds of positive school climates are associated with reduced suicide risk and better mental health among LGBT students [5,6].  For youth to thrive in their schools and communities, they need to feel socially, emotionally, and physically safe. Schools, communities, parents, and youth have a role to play in building positive, supportive, and healthy environments for youth. Such environments promote acceptance and respect and help youth feel valued [7].