Bullying is a huge problem in the GLBT community (see Resources), and GLBT teens are more likely to kill themselves as a result of bullying than any other group. Teachers should monitor their class for signs of bullying and exclusion and intervene whenever possible. When children work in groups, assign their groups rather than allowing them to pick them themselves. This encourages different students to interact with and get to know one another, and minimizes exclusion. Institute a strict "zero tolerance" for bullying rule and encourage students to report bullying they witness or experience.
Heteronormativity refers to the practice of treating heterosexuality as normal and ignoring all other sexual orientations. Parents and teachers frequently inadvertently practice heteronormativity with children by saying things like, "One day, when you marry a nice girl..." or, "Sex happens when a man and woman love each other very much." These sorts of statements make GLBT kids feel deviant and invisible. Carefully monitor heteronormative language when you teach, and never assume that all students are straight. Embrace all types of families and talk to students about how there are many different ways people can fall in love.
Sexism often goes hand in hand with homophobia. Classrooms in which only boys are encouraged to be tough and only girls are encouraged to be sensitive are more likely to experience problems of homophobia and bullying. GLBT children in particular can be harmed by sexist myths about the way their gender should behave. Display posters, books and classroom decorations that show a variety of different types of people engaging in different activities.
Students bring a variety of views and prejudices they have learned elsewhere into the classroom. Teachers may mistakenly believe that if they do not talk about homosexuality, discrimination against GLBT students won't happen. It's important to talk about sexual orientation in an age-appropriate way, and to make it clear that hurtful language, discrimination, and name-calling will not be tolerated in your classroom. Plan activities that encourage empathy with diverse people. For example, ask students how they would feel if they knew they would never be allowed to marry. Perform classroom plays that incorporate gay people and their families as characters, and make sure the library has books about the experiences of GLBT people.