Matt French is a young teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District who has great empathy and concern for the LGBTI students at his school.

There was a time when he was in their shoes.

‘As a gay student, I had no safe harbor, I had no safe place,’ he said Wednesday (7 October). ‘ I know that my students aren’t having that same alone experience that I had.’

French joined the Los Angeles LGBT Center and others in announcing the expansion of a pilot program called OUT for Safe Schools which has teachers and staff members in the district wearing rainbow badges identifying themselves as allies and protectors of LGBTI students.

‘This badge saves lives,’ French said. ‘This visibility matters.’

The program was launched two years ago at LAUSD which is the second largest school district in the US. At a press conference Wednesday, it was announced that the program will be expanded to nine other school districts located in New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Duval County (Florida), and Washington, DC.

‘Despite increased public acceptance of LGBT people in general, many school campuses remain toxic environments for LGBTQ students, contributing to higher rates of suicide, depression, homelessness and HIV infection,’ Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean said at the morning press conference.

The Center approached the LAUSD about developing this program to create visible adult allies throughout the entire school system to help the youth feel safe and supported while helping to deter would-be bullies.

‘Now, wherever students look, they’re sure to see adults who proudly identify themselves as LGBTQ allies for students,’ Jean said.

A 2014 study by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) found that 65% of LGBTI students heard homophobic remarks frequently or often, 56% of reported personally experiencing LGBT-related discriminatory policies or practices at school, and 33% were physically harassed (e.g., pushed or shoved) in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

The study also illustrates the value and importance of having visible adult allies on school campuses.

LGBTI students with 11 or more supportive staff at their school were much less likely to feel unsafe than students with no supportive staff (36% vs. 74%) and had higher GPAs (3.3 vs. 2.8). But only 39% of those surveyed could identify 11 or more supportive staff at their school.

‘We know in this very moment, we know there are students in our district who still do not feel safe, who face bullying,depression and anxiety,’ said LAUSD Board President Steve Zimmer. ‘Let us be cognizant of how much work we still have to do.

But Zimmer said the badges send the clear message to students that ‘we care about you, you’re important to us, your life matters, your story matters. We love you.’