Is your PFLAG chapter known for its support for parents of GLBT children of any age, but not to GLBT parents? Often, these parents mistakenly think they are not welcome at PFLAG meetings because it’s for “parents, families and friends” of GLBT people.
However, this ever-growing group of people can bring a different and powerful perspective to your work with the schools. When our elementary school classrooms are welcoming to all kinds of families - including those headed by GLBT parents - we will have made a huge step in the right direction to eliminate hateful behavior before our children get to middle school.
Understanding the challenges these parents face as their young children start school is the first step. How do they find the right school? How much information do the school administrators and teachers, other parents and students need to have? What challenges do GLBT parents face as they attempt to be involved in their child’s educational experience?
When advocating for school and district changes, ask questions that will reveal if we are making our schools welcoming for all families, such as:
Are planned curricula inclusive and accurate?
Do forms allow for family diversity – e.g., parent/guardian instead of mother/father?
How can we influence school and district policies to improve inclusion at all levels?
There are a number of great resources on the web to assist you in understanding the issues effectively so you can communicate them to your school administrators. You can also get more information on these specific topics by contacting PFLAG’s Senior Safe Schools Coordinator by e-mailing sgreenfield@pflag.org.
More resources:
>> Return to the From Our House to the Schoolhouse start page.