‘BEING LGBT IN SCHOOL’

5.3.1 Working with individual students
The guidance counsellor is often the person
a student may choose to tell that they are
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The
guidance counsellor should consider the
following points and responses:
⚫⚫
⚫⚫
⚫⚫
Start by acknowledging that coming out
is a very positive step and state that you
are pleased that they chose to share this
information with you.
Reassure the student that you will treat
information confidentially as long
as he/she is not at risk of harm, or of
harming someone else. Risk of harm
should be assessed and dealt with in
accordance with Children First Guidelines
(Department of Children and Youth
Affairs, 2011) and the Department of
Education and Skills’, Child Protection
Procedures for Primary and Post Primary
Schools. Reassure the student that they
are a valued member of the school
community and that the school respects
and affirms all students in all aspects
of their individual identity. State that it
is an important goal of the school that
each member of the school community
feels safe, supported and affirmed.
Recognise that when a young person
comes out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender they are disclosing their
sexual orientation or gender identity. It
is important that this is not interpreted
as a statement of engagement in sexual
behaviour. However, the advice given
in the Children First Guidelines and the
Department of Education and Skills’
Child Protection Procedures for Primary
and Post Primary Schools relating to
sexual activity applies to all students
regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity. The legal age of consent
⚫⚫
in Ireland is 17 years for boys and girls,
for both heterosexual and homosexual
sex.
The student may have concerns about
telling his/her parents/guardians.
Reassure the young person that only
if school authorities have legitimate
cause for concern for the student’s
safety would contact be made with the
student’s parents/guardians. Often
a young person experiences intense
fear of rejection by his/her family and
consequently finds it easier to come out
to others first. A positive experience
of coming out to others, where they
are met with acceptance, is critical to
safeguarding the young person’s mental
health and well-being; it can also lessen
the fears about disclosing to his/her
family and friends (Mayock et al, 2009).
5.3.2 General points for guidance
counsellors in working with LGBT
students
⚫⚫
Some guidance counsellors may believe
that they are not expert enough on LGBT
issues if they have never participated
in education/training in this area.
However, LGBT issues are like all other
issues which involve a person’s life
experience and as each person’s life
experience is unique to them it is that
particular experience that ought to
guide the counselling situation, rather
than a standardised approach. The
general skills of counselling apply here
as in any other situation. That said, a
broad understanding of any issue is
always beneficial and there are many
sources of information and supports
listed in section 8 and 9.
42
‘Being LGBT in School’