A Lesson Plan from Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit

Leader's Resource for What Can I Do to Create Safe Space Lesson Plan

Dwayne—Dwayne is 16 years old. He has been out for about a year now. When Dwayne is in history class, another student calls him a "fag." He raises his hand and complains to the teacher. The history teacher responds that Dwayne interrupted her lecture and should not do so again. You are classmates and friends of Dwayne's, and you witnessed the entire incident. What do you do to rectify the situation?

Marisa—Marisa is a 16-year-old lesbian. She and her friend, Rosa, are at a party talking to a group of friends about the upcoming school dance. Most of the girls are not going to the dance; but they single Marisa out for comments. They say, "You couldn't get a date if you tried, because you're a dyke and all the guys know it." What should Marisa say? What could others do to stop the harassment?

Laticia—Laticia is 15 years old. She dates Leroy, one of the starting linemen on the football team. Laticia thought she loved Leroy; but recently, notices a growing attraction to Vonnie, a cheerleader. She feels about Vonnie the way she once felt about Leroy. Because she is so confused, Laticia tells her best friend, who promises to keep it a secret, but instead, tells everyone in the entire school. Vonnie won't even talk to Laticia anymore. Leroy breaks up with her and calls her a "dyke." She hears insults from the other students as they pass her in the halls. Now, Laticia feels totally alone and doesn't know where to turn. You are a group of people that don't know Laticia that well, but overhear the commotion in the hall. What could you do or say to stop the harassment?

Ben—Ben runs the 800-meter race for the track team at his local high school. Joel, his best friend since elementary school, is also on the team. About a year earlier, Joel had told a couple of his friends that he was gay. Ben didn't care; he had pretty much figured it out by the time Joel came out anyway. But one of their other friends thought this was crazy, and, after trying to talk Joel out of 'being gay,' had told another guy, who in turn told someone else, and pretty soon the whole school knew. It wasn't easy, but Joel pretty much took it in stride and was moving on. Today, however, Ben has come over to stretch before his race with a couple of other guys on the team. They start asking him questions like "Does he watch us while we're in the shower?" And, "dude, you know he totally wants you." How can Ben respond to stop the harassment?

Chrissie—Chris is home for the summer after his first year at college, during which he became active in the school's GLBTQ student group. Chris was a vocal, happy member of the GLBTQ community and, at the same time, struggled with a lot of personal issues. For a long time, Chris had felt out of place, identifying more with his girlfriends than with his male friends. After doing a lot of research and giving careful consideration to his personal issues, Chris feels like he's finally found his identity—transgender. Once at home for the summer, Chris talks with her parents and tells them that she's changing her name to Chrissie and using female pronouns. Chrissie's parents react harshly. When they calm down a bit, they tell her, "It's just a phase." Chrissie feels betrayed and stunned by her parents' reaction and gets out of the house as soon as possible so she can think about what to do now. You're Chrissie's lifelong friend. She approaches you for support, telling you that she's come out as transgender and changed her name. What do you say to accept Chrissie and help her through this situation with her parents?

Reprinted from Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit, Girl's Best Friend Foundation and Advocates for Youth, © 2005.

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