Gay-straight Iowa alliance promotes acceptance

Posted on October 14, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

IOWA CITY — Little things a teacher does can make a big difference in the lives of students who may be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

About 50 people — mainly future teachers studying at the University of Iowa — got advice on how to help all students and families feel safe in school on Thursday. The advice came from a seven-person UI panel.

Kerri Barnhouse, an English teacher at West High School, offered this advice: Teachers should avoid speaking as if everyone around them is necessarily heterosexual.

She said statistically, about one in every 30 high school students are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or LGBT.

Panelists noted that even if students are not gay or transgender, they probably know someone who is. It could be their parents, an aunt or uncle, or someone else.

Gay-straight Iowa alliance promotes acceptance
Gazette Online, IA