Classroom Barriers: New Survey Finds LGBTQ+ Students Face Far Greater Challenges in Restrictive States as Educators Struggle to Create Inclusive Classrooms

"Every young person deserves to feel safe and supported at school, but this report makes clear that far too many LGBTQ+ students, especially transgender youth, are being failed by policies designed to exclude them," said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. "We know that when students feel seen, supported, and affirmed, they are more likely to thrive, but when schools become places of exclusion or hostility, young people pay the price through lower engagement, missed opportunities to learn, and poorer mental and physical health. The differences between supportive LGBTQ+ inclusive policy states and those that restrict those policies show that these outcomes are not inevitable-they are the result of policy choices. As we move toward the midterm elections, it's clear that the leaders we elect, from state officials to local school board members, will help determine whether LGBTQ+ students feel welcomed and educators feel supported, or whether harmful policies continue to tell them they don't belong."

In recent years, a growing number of states have passed laws targeting LGBTQ+ students and the educators who support them. These policies restrict anti-bullying programs, limit classroom discussions about LGBTQ+ people and issues, and ban transgender students from fully participating in school life. Rather than protecting students, these laws can contribute to school environments where bullying, harassment, and exclusion are more likely. Notably, for the first time, the survey found that educators themselves are also experiencing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment, highlighting the growing impact of these policies on school staff as well as students.

"Every statistic in this report represents a student who deserves to feel safe and respected at school, and an educator working to make that possible," said Human Rights Campaign Vice President of School and Youth Programming Cheryl Greene. "The findings show the cost of policies that create barriers to inclusion, particularly for transgender students. When young people experience bullying and exclusion it impacts far more than their time in the classroom. It affects their sense of belonging, their mental health, and their ability to thrive. Every student should be seen for who they are, and every educator should have the tools and freedom to help create welcoming, affirming learning environments."

Key findings from the 2026 National Educator Survey on School Climate and Bullying:

• In states with restrictive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies, 59% of educators report restrictions on supporting transgender students, compared to just 6-8% of educators in states with supportive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies.
• In states with restrictive policies, nearly 50% of educators reported restrictions on LGBTQ+ books or resources, compared to just 7% of educators in states with supportive policies.
• Roughly 32% of educators in states with restrictive policies reported anti-LGBTQ+ harassment was a moderate or serious problem, compared with 11% of educators in states with supportive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies.
• In states with restrictive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies, 29% of educators were very worried about anti-LGBTQ+ harassment, compared to 15% in states with supportive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies.
• In states with restrictive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies, 36% of educators witnessed anti-LGBTQ+ student bullying, compared to 27% in states with supportive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies.
• In states with supportive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies, 75% of educators reported no restrictions on LGBTQ+-supportive displays, highlighting a substantially more supportive school environment than in states with restrictive policies.
• Educators in states with restrictive LGBTQ+ inclusion policies also reported significant harassment of students based on appearance (57%), race or ethnicity (43%), sexual orientation (42%), and gender identity or expression (39%). (No direct comparison figure from supportive-policy states is provided in the data above.)
  

To read the National Educator Survey on School Climate and Bullying Report, click here, for a high-level overview of the findings, view the Executive Summary here, and to learn more about the HRC Safe Schools Champion Initiative, click here.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action-working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

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