Systematic Review of Studies Measuring the Impact of Educational Programs against Homophobia, Transphobia and Queerophobia in Secondary Schools of North America, Western Europe and Australia

Abstract

The objective of this study is to review the studies measuring the impact of extra-curricular and intra-curricular educational programs designed to reduce the prejudice, verbal, psychological and physical violence against LGBTQ students in secondary schools, and assess the degree of effectiveness of those programs to improve the situation of students from sexual minorities, as well as to change the attitude and behavior of heterosexual and cisgender students towards their LGBTQ peers. Given the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies were identified as relevant. The majority of these studies were on Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and the other focused on extracurricular seminars type programs (ECS) conducted by volunteers of LGBTQ associations and intra-curricular programs (ICP) administered by teachers. On one hand, the results show a significant, systematic and sustainable positive impact of GSA on both the school life of LGBTQ students and on the attitudes and behaviors of heterosexual and cisgender students toward their colleagues from sexual minorities; on the other hand, the results show a less effectiveness of ECS/ICP to reduce prejudice, verbal abuse, psychological and physical violence against LGBT students.