Supportive Teachers Key to Trans Students' Success in Classroom
A new report highlights the importance of supportive teachers in helping trans students thrive in school, with affirming identities and creating inclusive environments leading to higher grades and a greater sense of belonging.
Trans students who receive support from their teachers are more likely to succeed in the classroom, according to a new report from GLISTEN and the Trevor Project. The report found that students whose identities are affirmed at school report higher grades and a greater sense of belonging, and are more likely to participate fully in class.
## Creating a Supportive Environment The report noted that simple actions, such as affirming a student's name and pronouns, can make a significant difference in a trans student's experience. Additionally, teaching and talking about LGBTQ+ topics, and supporting student-led LGBTQ+ groups, can help create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Students also benefit from connecting with LGBTQ+ peers at school and seeing positive representations of LGBTQ+ people in their classrooms. Furthermore, attending schools with inclusive policies, such as those that allow them to compete on sports teams or use facilities that align with their gender identities, can also have a positive impact.
## Challenges Faced by Trans Students Despite the importance of supportive teachers and inclusive environments, many trans students face significant challenges in school. The report found that more than half of trans and nonbinary students said their school had implemented at least one policy or practice that was discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ students. Roughly 60 percent of students reported experiencing at least one negative event at school, including verbal harassment and being barred from dressing in accordance with their gender.
The report also found that 25 percent of students missed 16 or more days of school last year, and 9 percent said they were mistreated so badly that they left their school altogether. These findings highlight the need for schools to take proactive steps to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for trans students.
## Taking Action The report's findings provide clear and impactful actions that teachers and school officials can take to support trans students. Asking about and affirming a student's name and pronouns, teaching and talking about LGBTQ+ topics, and supporting student-led LGBTQ+ groups can all help create a more inclusive environment. Additionally, schools can implement policies that allow trans students to compete on sports teams and use facilities that align with their gender identities.
According to Derrick Matthews, director of research science at the Trevor Project, school environments can play a powerful role in determining whether trans students thrive or struggle. The report's findings emphasize the importance of taking proactive steps to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their gender identity.
The data for the report was collected through two surveys: the Trevor Project's survey of over 3,700 transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive 13- to 24-year-olds, and GLISTEN's 2025 National School Climate Survey of nearly 2,000 trans middle and high school students. The surveys were conducted anonymously online between March and October of last year, and between April and October 2024, respectively.
