Today, Outright Vermont announced that twenty-eight percent of public high schools in the state have at least one gender-neutral bathroom. The gender-neutral, unisex one-stall facilities are available in seventeen of Vermont’s sixty-one public high schools. The findings are included in Outright’s 2009 Safe Schools Report Card, which surveyed the schools and released the results today.

The Safe Schools Report Card is a resource which allows youth, parents, teachers and administrators to review efforts taking place to improve school climates and eliminate bullying and harassment in Vermont schools. “There is a lot for Vermont parents to be proud of in this year’s Report Card. These schools are listening to their students and being pro-active to make sure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth have a safe and positive environment in which to learn,” stated Christopher Neff Outright Executive Director.

The Report Card surveyed all 61 public high schools to determine the number of schools with Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs), anti-bullying programs and accessible gender-neutral bathrooms. Twenty Vermont high schools have active GSAs (30 percent), with two additional emerging GSAs. Studies show that the presence of peer-based support groups, in particular GSAs, improves the overall climate for all students and provide needed support for LGBTQQ youth.

Eight schools were given the highest praise, including:

• Burlington High School
• Champlain Valley Union High School
• Middlebury Union
• Milton High School
• Montpelier High School
• Mt. Abraham Union
• Proctor Junior/Senior
• South Burlington H.S.

According to Vermont’s 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 34% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) students (grades 8-12) reported being harassed or bullied in the past 30 days. This number was more than double the rate of bullying or harassment (15%) identified by straight students.

Outright is working with youth, principals, teachers and administrators to address school climate issues statewide. In August, Kyle Giard-Chase and Outright began a gender-neutral bathroom campaign to ensure access in every middle school and high school. The availability of one-stall unisex bathrooms is important for many students and their presence improves the educational climate for students who might otherwise wait until they get home.

The Report Card also notes if schools track bullying, as required by law. However, Vermont law does not currently mandate anti-bullying presentations for students; it mandates education for all teachers. In addition, the Report Card collected data regarding all sources for anti-bullying presentations including Outright and other programs or presenters.

Please note: By law, bullying on the basis of a protected class (such as gender identity, sex or sexual orientation) is referred to as harassment.

Outright Vermont is the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth center and state-wide advocacy organization. The mission of Outright Vermont is to build safe, healthy, and supportive environments for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.

www.outrightvt.org