LGBTQIA+ Health in Chicago Public Schools
CPS administrators, faculty, staff, and students all play an important part in providing this support to better support transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and intersex students, school principals, and their designees should ensure that these guidelines are implemented at the school level.
Neither a Student Administrative Support Team (a team convened to support a student’s transition at school) nor a Gender Support Plan is required in order for a student to receive supports at school. If a student and/or a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) do not desire a Student Administrative Support Team or Gender Support Plan, the support coordinator will work with the student and/or student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) (if they are involved) to coordinate gender-affirming supports without the aforementioned tools. The principal shall designate at least one support coordinator who will coordinate supports for students. Support coordinators will hold a meeting with a student and/or student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) within ten (10) school days of a request by the student and/or the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s). Support coordinators will ascertain the student’s and/or student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) wishes and concerns and discuss the formation of a Student Administrative Support Team and/or Gender Support Plan.
At all times, the support coordinator and the Student Administrative Support Team shall respect the self-determination of the student. Gender Support Plans should address the expressed wishes of the student regarding accommodations for affirming the name and pronouns that correspond to the student’s gender identity, disclosure of the student’s gender identity to teachers and other relevant staff, use of restrooms and locker rooms, confidentiality of gender transition in student records and information systems, and other supports as necessary.
In a CPS school of 1,000 students, the are approximately:
39
lesbian or gay students
118
bisexual students
55
students who are unsure of their sexual identity
21
transgender students
26
students who are unsure if they are transgender
22.7% of CPS Students identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning (LGBTQ)
In a CPS high school classroom of 28 students, on average, 6 (six) students identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning (LGBTQ)
Demographics of LGBTQIA+ Students:
- LGBTQIA+ students are more likely to be female.
- LGBTQIA+ students represent all races and ethnicities
- Students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely to identify as transgender than students who do not identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.