Trends in Secondary Schools' Practices to Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Students, 2008-2014.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine trends in the percentage of US secondary schools that implemented practices related to the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students. METHODS: This analysis used data from 4 cycles (2008-2014) of School Health Profiles, a surveillance system that provides results representative of secondary schools in each state. Each school completed 2 self-administered questionnaires (principal and teacher) per cycle. We used logistic regression models to examine linear trends. RESULTS: Of 8 examined practices to support LGBTQ youths, only 1-identifying safe spaces for LGBTQ youths-increased in most states (72%) from 2010 to 2014. Among the remaining 7, only 1-prohibiting harassment based on a student's perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity-had relatively high rates of adoption (a median of 90.3% of schools in 2014) across states. CONCLUSIONS: Many states have seen no change in the implementation of school practices associated with LGBTQ students' health and well-being.