Over the past few years, institutional discrimination
has been one of the most pressing social issues in the US. There is a sliver of proof that people are discriminated against because of their gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity (Kosciw et al., 2013). The study examines instances of discrimination against individuals with different sexual orientations, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, in American schools.
Institutionalized Forms of LGBT Discrimination in Schools
In schools, there are many institutionalized forms of LGBT discrimination. The segregation based on sexual orientation has not only affected students who face bullying from their counterparts regarding their sexuality but also the staff who are not given the freedom to express their views (Pizmony-Levy & Kosciw, 2016). The current research has unveiled that schools have become a hostile environment for LGBT students as far as their rights to access to educational facilities is concerned. Other than bullying, the school kids face exclusion of topics related to LGBT in the school resources and curricula, harassment, bigotry and not limited to discrimination from both school personnel and classmates based on gender identity and sexual orientation (Pizmony-Levy & Kosciw, 2016).
Perceived Deviation from Societal Norms
The issue of same-sex identity has always been perceived as a deviation from the societal norm, which makes people avoid associating with or discriminating against the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (Creed, DeJordy, & Lok, 2010). Students fear to associate with their LGBT counterparts in school because some fear that they may be influenced by their behaviors. Studies have also established that many people, including senior personnel in school, discriminate against the LGBT because they believe such groups lack social morals (Creed et al., 2010). Moreover, several schools and other institutions in the United States do not advocate for the rights of the LGBT (Kosciw et al., 2013). In fact, failure by some states within the United States to enact some rights of the LGBT is the major cause of the existence of institutional discrimination of the LGBTs.
References
Creed, W. E. D., DeJordy, R., & Lok, J. (2010). Being the change: Resolving institutional contradiction through identity work. Academy of Management Journal, 53(6), 1336–1364. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2010.57318357
Kosciw, J. G., Palmer, N. A., Kull, R. M., & Greytak, E. A. (2013). The Effect of Negative School Climate on Academic Outcomes for LGBT Youth and the Role of In-School Supports. Journal of School Violence, 12(1), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2012.732546
Pizmony-Levy, O., & Kosciw, J. G. (2016). School climate and the experience of LGBT students: A comparison of the United States and Israel. Journal of LGBT Youth, 13(1), 46–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2015.1108258
