In many states and school districts, LGBT students and teachers are not provided with the protection they need from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This lack of information about same-sex activity and other topics related to the LGBT community puts these individuals at a greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The stigma and isolation that LGBT youth face can also lead to them engaging in risky behaviors due to a lack of knowledge about safe sexual relationships. Recently, the Louis County Circuit Court requested a temporary restraining order to block the application of the Missouri Attorney General's emergency rule, which imposes extreme restrictions on care that affirms the gender perspective for trans people of all ages in Missouri.
This standard was established under the Missouri Marketing Practices Act and is due to take effect on April 27, once documentation is submitted to the Missouri Secretary of State's office. At the University of Central Missouri, students can specialize in Gender and Sexuality Studies to give themselves an edge when applying for jobs in any field. Discussions on LGBT issues in schools often focus on LGBT youth, who are particularly vulnerable to bullying, harassment, and negative academic and mental health outcomes. Even if there is no overt harassment or bullying, LGBT students in every state where interviews were conducted reported feeling alone or unwelcome in their school environment.
Teachers also moderate conversations about issues related to the LGBT community and other topics related to this community in history, government, psychology, and English classes. Some students raise awareness of issues related to the LGBT community and social justice in their schools with events such as National Day of Expulsion from the Closet or the Day of Silence, an annual event in which students do not speak during a school day to highlight how harassment silences LGBT youth.
