1.

Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning or queer (LGBTQ)
youth are at high risk for bullying and violence victimization, poor mental health, alcohol and
other drug use, and poor academic performance. In California, the availability of data from the
California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) offers educators, school administrators, and state officials
an important opportunity to explore how LGBTQ students — and other populations — perceive
their school climate and how those perceptions relate to their academic success and emotional
well-being. Previous research using data from CHKS has produced important findings regarding
the experiences of LGBTQ students in California middle and high schools (WestEd, 2018). The
present study builds on this research by using two years of CHKS data from grades 7, 9, and 11 in
California schools to explore the relationships between students’ sexual orientation, gender
identity, experiences of bullying and harassment, emotional well-being, and school climate.
Results are presented for three gender identity categories (transgender, not transgender, and
“not sure”) and for five sexual orientation categories (straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, “not sure
yet,” and “something else”). In previous research, multiple gender identity and sexual
orientation categories have typically been aggregated into a single LGBTQ sample, making it
difficult to draw conclusions regarding differences in students’ experiences based on these two
aspects of their identities. This report disaggregates data on gender identity and sexual
orientation in order to provide a more complete and nuanced picture of LGBTQ students’
experiences in school.

Understanding the experiences of LGBTQ students in California. WestEd. (n.d.). Retrieved February
7, 2023, from https://www.wested.org/resources/lgbtq-students-in-california/

2. . Harassment, Victimization, and Violence Compared with heterosexual youth, LGBT youth
report experiencing higher levels of harassment, victimization, and violence, including verbal,
physical, and sexual abuse. School victimization based on known or perceived sexual orientation
and gender identity has been documented consistently in studies of LGB and, more recently,
transgender adolescents. A community-based study of LGB youth aged 21 or younger (n = 350)
(D'Augelli et al., 2002) found that school-based victimization was widespread for LGB youth and
that an association existed between this victimization and mental health and posttraumatic
stress symptoms. The study results showed that earlier recognition of same-sex feelings, self-
identification as LGB, and disclosure of sexual orientation were correlated with increased high
school victimization. Similarly, youth who were open about their sexual orientation or exhibited
gender-atypical behavior were targets for victimization. Likewise, a series of community school
climate surveys conducted since 1999 has documented extensive verbal and physical
harassment and discrimination among LGBT students in schools (Kosciw et al., 2007, 2008).
Concerns about their safety have consequences for the academic achievement of LGBT youth.
O'Shaughnessy and colleagues (2004) examined data from the 2002 California Healthy Kids
Survey (n = 237,544) and the 2003 Preventing School Harassment Survey (n = 634) and found
that, compared with other students, LGBT students and students perceived to be sexual
minorities were more likely to report low grades, to miss school because they felt unsafe, and to
report less support from teachers and other adults. Similarly, using data from the 1995 wave of
the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Russell and colleagues (2001) found that,
 compared with heterosexual girls, sexual-minority girls as identified by same-sex attraction may
hold less positive attitudes about school and may be more likely to have school problems. Both
bisexual-attracted boys and girls appear to be significantly more likely to have school troubles
and lower grade point averages. The study did not find significant differences in school
outcomes or attitudes between heterosexual boys and boys reporting exclusively same-sex
attraction. In a 1998 study of 105 LGB youth aged 14–21, family-based victimization, including
verbal and physical abuse, was related to disclosure of and openness about sexual orientation
(D'Augelli et al., 1998). In addition, results from a convenience sample of 521 LGB youth aged
13–22 suggest that LGB youth experience dating and intimate partner violence at rates that may
be similar to those for heterosexual youth (Freedner et al., 2002).

4 childhood/adolescence - NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64808/