ABSTRACT
School social workers, therapeutic day treatment counsellors, home-school liaisons, parental outreach coordinators, and residential facility staff are often employed directly by school systems and educational programs. Safety and education are basic human rights. The visibility and support of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and ally) families in schools sets an important example for LGBTQIA youth who are in the process of coming out and their peers who see acceptance for diversity modelled for them. Social workers should attune to policies and practices that marginalize these families, making it difficult for LGBTQIA parents and their children to feel fully engaged at their school. These social work values and ethics are important to consider in working with LGBTQIA youth: dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, social justice, empathy, confidentiality, self-determination, and individualization. Bullying creates a hostile environment and is a persistent problem for marginalized students, which includes a high incidence of LGBTQIA bullying.
