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

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.