U.S. Department of Education to host LGBT youth summit

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan [pic] will speak at the Department’s first-ever GLBT youth summit, June 7, in Washington, D.C. The two-day summit is titled “Creating and Maintaining Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBT Youth” Duncan will highlight the administration’s commitment to ensuring equal access to education for LGBT students. He also will discuss the Department’s Office for Civil Rights which recently released guidance on the protection against harassment in an education setting for GLBT individuals.

LGBT youths are a uniquely vulnerable population in America’s schools. Because they suffer at a higher rate than many of their peer groups from physical violence, bullying, anxiety and depression, LGBT youths are more prone to exhibit high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse, sexual risk-taking and running away from home. The summit, hosted by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will bring together students, educators, administrators, and heads of federal and nonprofit agencies to provide information and seek solutions to these issues.

Article adapted by Proud Parenting from original press release