Apparently, the secret to students doing well in school isn't some complex new curriculum or a radical teaching method. It's just, you know, being a decent human being. A new report from GLISTEN and The Trevor Project confirms what many probably suspected: when teachers actually support their transgender students, those kids don't just feel safer — they get better grades and jump into class discussions. Because, shockingly, feeling like you belong helps you focus on algebra.
This isn't just about feeling warm and fuzzy, though. It's a stark contrast to the daily grind many trans students face. Over half of the trans and nonbinary students surveyed felt their school had at least one discriminatory policy, and a whopping 60% had experienced a negative event. Verbal harassment topped the list at 49%, with some students even being stopped from dressing how they wanted. The result? Nearly a quarter missed 16 or more school days last year, and 9% actually left their school altogether because of mistreatment. Let that sink in.
The Not-So-Secret Sauce
So, what actually works? Turns out, it's not rocket science. Simply using a student's correct name and pronouns makes a massive difference in how safe they feel. Teaching about LGBTQ+ topics and supporting student-led groups like Gender and Sexuality Alliances also helps. You know, basic human respect and inclusion.
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Start Your News DetoxBut here's the kicker: students want more than just the absence of hostility. Shweta Moorthy, research director at GLISTEN, calls it "negative neutrality." It's when educators aren't actively being jerks, but they're not exactly being champions either. It's the quiet shrug, the unspoken indifference that, while not outright harmful, certainly isn't helpful.
The report, which pulled data from over 5,700 trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive young people, is essentially a very polite, data-driven plea: be proactive. Be affirming. Because safety, as Moorthy points out, isn't just the absence of bullying. It's the presence of genuine support. And apparently, that leads to higher grades. Who knew?
