Sexual orientation, gender, and inclusive education : the impact of learning environment and social support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children and youth

In many, varied and important ways, schools are microcosms of the communities and societies in which they exist. It is likely that students, and indeed teachers, share attitudes and values that pervade a school's social context. In Australia, it is not uncommon for some of these attitudes to be unsupportive, if not prejudicial, toward students from minority groups. This chapter examines the impact of school climate and prevailing community attitudes on minority students, in relation to gender and ethnicity, and particularly sexual orientation in the Australian context. The chapter concludes by considering programs that can be implemented to overcome negative effects of social prejudices so that schools are better able to cater for individual needs of students to promote positive learning environments. Whole school approaches emphasize social inclusion for all students in order that they may reach their full potential and contribute to social development.